Cheap Grace (part i)

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession.”

-          Bonhoeffer

I started reading through Cost of Discipleship this last week after dwelling on what it meant to be a disciple (literally follower) of Christ.  I considered what it meant to follow a leader into battle or even how tracking the enemy was similar to following in the way that you are subject to his every whim; but then I realized we’re supposed to follow the Christ.  The one man who lived and breathed such a countercultural life that our world has argued over him for 20 centuries!

Our Lord certainly preached forgiveness, but he required everything.  We’re told to give up our life to follow Him, and that anything short of everything, is not enough.  Yet we live in a society that demands acceptance.  We demand cheap grace. 

We want to be forgiven without putting off our desires.  Why do Christians think they can preach about the love of Christ and the forgiveness of sins without talking about repentance?  Three quarters of the New Testament is about repenting and turning from our old ways!  When Jesus healed the sick and the blind it was because they had faith and turned from their evil ways.  We are an evil people!  Repent and enjoy the grace of God!

We want to baptize without making it clear that faith and repentance are one and the same.  They do not happen apart from each other; they cannot be separated!  We must hold one another accountable, demanding that Christ is our identity as Christians.  We should see it as encouragement that our brothers and sisters in Christ are willing to discipline us, because only when it is evident that the glory of God is our utmost concern would it make sense for them to demand that we live for and like Christ!  Praise God for the brother who disciplines in the name of our Lord!

And finally, we want to have communion without confession.  We want to have communion without even recognizing our sins, saying that Christ came in love without judging.  God is our judge!  Who are we to ignore our trespasses against the Almighty God?  We think we can participate in communion, without considering our sins that put Him on the cross?  Him, the Perfect Intercessor!

Jesus, the name above all names, was nailed to a cross after being bloodied, beaten and battered.  His flesh was torn from His body, blood flowed from His pores from the torment and they shoved thorns onto His head to comfort Him.  He was thirsty, and was given sour wine.  He cried out, and was mocked.  He loved, and was denied.

You think grace is free?  You fool!  You’re dead in sin, and have been raised up to life through the death of the holy and perfect Intercessor!  It cost everything; repent!  That grace was not given so you could embrace your identity and celebrate your uniqueness.  It is for the glory of God, a jealous God who demands not your thoughts or your actions.  He demands everything; you must give up your life!

Stop living like a child, afraid of those who love you and want to see you redeemed.  Quit mocking the Savior who begs you come and enjoy life.  Praise the Lord above with sweet songs and the best of what you have.  Do not be comforted by the liars who distract your from the pain of your sin. 

You cannot worship the grace of salvation from God that comes free and without repentance.  It doesn’t exist