Above: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther (two great defenders of true grace)
Here is an excerpt from my journal which I shared at a staff meeting not long ago. Most of the thought is inspired from Bonhoeffer's book.
Costly Grace:
I understand that a message of grace has been preached, especially in the West, which is detached from the Biblical truth of grace.
The message of grace that has been so detrimental to The Church is one that is cheap. It has elements of truth but is void of the underlying truth that makes it God’s grace.
The effect has been the thought that sin can be justified while the sinner is not!
Cheap grace is grace without discipleship (us as disciples of Christ), forgiveness of sin without repentance, communion without confession, grace without the cross.
Grace isn’t costly because we have to do something to deserve it. We still receive something we’ll never deserve. We don't do (works) to become (Christian), we do because we are!
It is costly because is calls us to follow, which means we are leaving something behind! It is grace because it allows us to follow and calls us to follow Jesus! It is costly because it costs us our lives. It is grace because it gives us true life. It’s costly because it condemns sin and it is grace because is justifies the sinner.
It is costly because it cost God his son. It’s grace because God did not reckon his Son’s life too dear a price to pay for our lives.
Costly grace is God incarnate!
Cheap Grace is interpreted: "Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness."
Costly grace compels us to submit to the yoke of Christ! It is grace that Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I understand that a message of grace has been preached, especially in the West, which is detached from the Biblical truth of grace.
The message of grace that has been so detrimental to The Church is one that is cheap. It has elements of truth but is void of the underlying truth that makes it God’s grace.
The effect has been the thought that sin can be justified while the sinner is not!
Cheap grace is grace without discipleship (us as disciples of Christ), forgiveness of sin without repentance, communion without confession, grace without the cross.
Grace isn’t costly because we have to do something to deserve it. We still receive something we’ll never deserve. We don't do (works) to become (Christian), we do because we are!
It is costly because is calls us to follow, which means we are leaving something behind! It is grace because it allows us to follow and calls us to follow Jesus! It is costly because it costs us our lives. It is grace because it gives us true life. It’s costly because it condemns sin and it is grace because is justifies the sinner.
It is costly because it cost God his son. It’s grace because God did not reckon his Son’s life too dear a price to pay for our lives.
Costly grace is God incarnate!
Cheap Grace is interpreted: "Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness."
Costly grace compels us to submit to the yoke of Christ! It is grace that Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
2 comments:
Beaty Love the article and the blog sight.
Beaty I liked the article, I'm still learning more amd more everyday, and I really liked the blog. Wish there were more like it.
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