“Costly Grace---- is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which men must knock. It is costly and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin and grace because it justifies the sinner.  ABOVE ALL, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. ABOVE ALL, it is grace because God did not reckon His Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered Him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation, (God in flesh) of God”

“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market. It means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth. An intellectual assent, (agreement) to the idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure remission of sins; no contrition (remorse or guilt or repentance) required! Cheap grace, therefore, amounts to the denial of God’s Word! Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church”

                                                            Dietrich Bonhoeffer—“The Cost of Discipleship”

 

By October, 1944, the German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer had been imprisoned by the Nazis, for some time.  This was the month and year some of his friends made an attempt to liberate him and take him to safety abroad. Since he was so well respected, --- (Even by the guards, who use to apologize for having to lock him in his room!), --- the escape was almost assured to be successful! He chose to remain in prison rather than to endanger others. He would stay and work for the defeat of his own country, since only in this way could Germany as a Christian and European country be saved from extinction. How could he escape and return after the Nazis were defeated, if he did not stay and come along side his fellow countrymen and women as they faced this spectrum of evil? Ultimately, it was the allegiance he owed to God and his Master that forced him into this terrible decision. It was Bonhoeffer and his friends who were tortured, hanged and murdered that proved by their resistance unto death; even in the age of the nation-state there are loyalties which transcend those to state and nation.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his entire family, and acquaintances LIVED and DIED as the result of costly grace!

 

These definitions seared holes into my mind and heart as I read this soul stirring account of this Christ-like individual! It became clear to me what brand of grace many churches in America and around the world employ! May God forgive us!

 (II Chronicles 7:14!)

 

Pastor Tim