Cheap Grace

Q: What is "cheap grace"?

A:  Cheap grace has many definitions. Some credit German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with coming up with the phrase. In his 1937 book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer defines "cheap grace" as “the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” The conclusion reached by those who agree with this definition is that "cheap grace" puts an emphasis "on the benefits of Christianity without the costs involved." However, when I hear the term "cheap grace" used it is as, basically, a derogatory term aimed at people who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The assumption made by those using it is that there will be no "works," no "change" in our lives, no "acts of obedience" if we don't submit to some form of law. Those are the "costs" described earlier. They assume that people who are believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ will use the grace of God as a license to sin, etc. But, I am of the opinion that it is those that throw this term out, who are guilty of "cheap grace." They are the ones that think that only through submission to some form of law or works can a Christian grow in Christ. It is saying that we submit ourselves to a life of work and then fall back on the grace of God when we fall short of living that way. I call it, "The Heavenly Reset Button." Just like playing a video game. When you mess up at the game, you just start over; hit reset. That is true "cheap grace." In James 2:14, he asked, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" To James, the answer is, "No," because "faith without works is dead." However, the answer to his question is, "Yes," faith does save him. That is why Paul said, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28)." This is in direct opposition to what James wrote and why the two had a conflict as described in Galatians 2 when Paul was speaking about the hypocrisy of Peter. Paul wrote, "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-13)." The "men from James" were from the church in Jerusalem. These individuals were obviously of the belief that observing the law, at least in some form, was essential to the Christian life.

We still see James versus Paul today. The people that use the phrase "cheap grace" are the modern "men from James" that Paul spoke against. They will spin James' words to mean that works will emanate from a person saved by grace. While this is true, that is not what James meant. Secondly, whatever works that a Christian performs is between them and the Lord, since scripture tells us that, "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)." God creates the works we are to do. Those works are not subject to the approval of the James' of the Christian world. "Cheap grace" is for those who think that the inheritance we have been given by faith in Jesus Christ is somehow maintained through submitting ourselves to the works of the law and then performing bloodless and unacceptable sacrifices to restore our good standing with God when we fall short of being obedient. In fairness, those that accuse others of believing in "cheap grace" will deny that they believe that Christians are subject to the law. However, while they may not believe in being in subjection to the Mosaic Law, in practice they show that they believe being subject to some form of religious law. The teaching of sacraments, ordinances, commands and tying them to things like obedience and repentance are proof of their belief in living under law. Furthermore, when an individual falls short of living up to these laws, sacrifices for sins are reinstated. These sacrifices will take the form of actions like confession booths, altar calls, short accounts, asking forgiveness, repetitive prayers and so on. Hebrews 10:17-18, addresses this; "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary." There are no sacrifices for sin because God is no longer remembering our sins. And if our sins are not being remembered, being obedient to laws, whatever form they take, is not necessary. Therefore, the ones practicing "cheap grace," are those who believe there are "costs" we can "afford," when the bill has already been paid. The Bible says, "The righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17).” Living by faith is recognizing that Jesus paid all the costs and there is none left for us. It is preaching that the sin issue is finished between man and God. Baptism is the receiving of the Holy Spirit at salvation. Discipline is the Lord teaching us how to love others in the midst of them sinning against us. Communion is recognizing that forgiveness of sins is a present possession of every born again Christian and the Holy Spirit indwells each believer for all eternity. Grace is acknowledging that you have been given everything you need for life and godliness and have every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus because He paid all the costs. Anybody teaching otherwise is the one teaching "cheap grace," because the cost to purchase it was so expensive that only God, in Christ, could pay for it.  Paul encouraged us to, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1)." Don't let those who desire to put you back in bondage take away your freedom because they are still slaves to the law and don't understand grace.