“Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our stuggle today is for costly grace.” p. 43
Reading this revised new edition of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s work ,Disicipleship is whipping up a meaningful mess and putting back into place the beautiful marriage of grace and obedience.
“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without discipline of community; it is the Lord’s Supper without confession of sin; it is absolution wihtout personal confession of sin, grace without the cross, grace without the living , incarnate Christ.” p. 44
“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which has to be asked for, the door at which one has to knock.
It is costly, because it calls to discipleship; it is grace, because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly, because it costs people their lives; it is grace, because it thereby makes them live. It is costly, because it condemns sin, it is grace, because it justifies the sinner. Above all, grace is costly, because it was costly to God, because it costs God the life of God’s son — “you were bought with a price” — and because nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God. Above all, it is grace because the life of God’s Son was not too costly for God to give in order to make us live. God did, indeed, give him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.” p. 45
I read that book, too!! I will say this, the first few chapters truly stretched my faith. It made me both a little tentative, and still hopeful. I recognize the quote you have posted from the book. It is a quote not many modern day believers want to hear, I think. But, Discipleship goes on to remind us of the only hope we have or need, Jesus Christ. Enjoy the reading Sivin. I enjoy your Blog, too! I think MC is truly blessed to know you as her pastor.
Thanks for the quotes,
Here in South Africa a great pioneer against the rationalization of Apartheid, influenced by Bonhoeffer, passed away. His name was Beyers Naude and he too DB’s words to heart and lievd it!
Shalom,