Bonhoeffer: the cost of cheap grace

Monday, September 14, 2015
    Feast of the Holy Cross
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
    “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
    —Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
    Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all he his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ.
    ... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), The Cost of Discipleship, Simon and Schuster, 1959, p. 44-45 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 13:44-46; 16:26; 19:29; Luke 14:33; Phil. 3:7-9; Col. 2:2-3
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your grace is the most precious of gifts. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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