Grace - Free, but NOT cheap! (Classic Hymn Video) Day 14

Please read Luke 14:25-33

One Good Friday, a Pastor was driving from his home to the church where he worked. On the way, he drove by a large church where street hawkers were selling all types of religious items to those entering the large church. As he drove by, the Pastor heard a merchant shout “Cheap crosses! Cheap crosses for sale!”

These days many Christians, might no use the words ‘cheap cross’, but they are comfortable with their own cheap cross Christianity – they forget that God had to come down to the earth, suffer and sacrifice His life on the cross to pay the penalty for their sins. 

Dietrich Bonheoffer addressing this, in his book 'Cost of Discipleship', tells us that we Christians are living and finding comfort in cheap grace. He writes, “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is 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, living and incarnate.”

Bonheoffer then writes “Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and self 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 the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.”

Dear brother and sister in Christ, these days many believe in a gospel that does not advocate sin and its consequences, and/or the Savior and His substitutionary atonement.  If you find this hard to believe, try this – the next time someone tells you that he is saved, ask him these two questions- ‘Saved from WHAT?’ and ‘Saved from WHOM?’.  The reply may be the standard ‘saved from sin and Satan’ but the truth is – You and I are saved from God Himself, yes, Jesus saved us from the wrath and punishment in the hands of just and righteous God (Romans 5:9; John 3:36; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). So let’s listen to Jesus when He tells us to abide in Him (John 15:4) and obey His teaching (John 14:23).

Dear Jesus thank you for saving me from the wrath and eternal punishment I deserve. Please teach me to truly understand your sacrifice on the cross for me. Amen.

Here are two versions of a classic-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMcG0JclK-A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po8qDVlvFgo