I am reading, "The Cost of Discipleship," by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I have stumbled upon some quotes that we all need to ponder. He is talking about cheap grace and costly grace. Cheap grace is "is the grace that we bestow on ourselves. 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." Then he describes costly grace. "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 his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out they eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him." Grace is free, but it is costly. It was freely given, and it is freely received. You cannot purchase grace, but grace will cost you your life. Have you repented of your sin? Have you laid down your life before the living God and proclaimed, "This life is yours! I was bought with a price?" Have you believed in the words of God so much that you would lay down life and possessions for the sake of knowing God?
Just some questions to ponder...
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