Answer: The term �cheap grace� can be traced back to a book written by German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, called The Cost of Discipleship, published in 1937. In that book, Bonhoeffer defined �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.� Notice what is emphasized in Bonhoeffer�s definition of cheap grace and what is de-emphasized. The emphasis is on the benefits of Christianity without the costs involved; hence, the adjective cheap to describe it.
A similar debate regarding cheap grace erupted in the 1980s and 1990s in the Lordship Salvation controversy. The controversy began when pastor and theologian John MacArthur objected to a teaching that was becoming popular in evangelical circles called �carnal Christianity.� The reference is to a statement that the apostle Paul made in his first letter to the church at Corinth: �But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ� (1 Corinthians 3:1). The phrase �of the flesh� is the Greek word sarkinos, meaning �flesh.� The word carnal comes from the Latin word for �flesh.� In the New Testament, flesh can simply mean �skin, flesh, body.� However, Paul often uses it to speak of our sinful nature�that unredeemed part of man with whom the new man in Christ must battle daily (Romans 7; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 2 Corinthians 10:2; Galatians 5:16-19).
The idea of carnal Christianity essentially teaches that as long as one makes a profession of faith in Christ, he or she is saved (Romans 10:9), even if there is no immediate obedience to the commands of Jesus and the apostles to live a life of holiness. It is the idea that we can have Jesus as Savior, but not necessarily as Lord. People who advocate for carnal Christianity, or �free grace� as it�s often called, do not deny the necessity of good works (i.e., holy living) for sanctification, but they distinguish the call for salvation from the call to sanctification (or discipleship).
There are many Scripture passages that free grace advocates use to support their position. It is not necessary to cite them all, but two of the most popular and forceful passages are John 3:16 and Romans 10:9.
� For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
� Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Clearly, these passages, and others, teach that the one who believes in Jesus Christ �has eternal life� and �will be saved.� There is no disputing this. However, what people like John MacArthur and others were objecting to is not that salvation and eternal life are free gifts of God�s grace, but rather the teaching that the call to salvation does not also include a call to repentance and holy living. In other words, they were objecting that the doctrine of free grace was becoming a doctrine of cheap grace. What the proponents of Lordship Salvation assert is that salvation is a call to discipleship, that one cannot have Jesus as Savior without also acknowledging Him as Lord.
The New Testament uses the word for �Lord� (kurios) 748 times, and 667 of those times it is used in reference to God or Jesus (e.g., �Jesus Christ our Lord,� Romans 1:4). In contrast, the New Testament uses the word for �savior� (soter) only 24 times. It seems clear that the emphasis in the New Testament is on Jesus Christ as Lord, not as Savior. Now in saying that, it is not meant to downplay or denigrate the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. What a glorious and gracious provision God has made for His people in providing Jesus Christ as our atoning sacrifice who thereby guarantees salvation and eternal life for those who believe in Him. Jesus Christ is most certainly our Savior, but this cannot be separated from the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord, and as Lord, He commands and we obey.
Jesus, in His Great Commission to the 11 remaining disciples, commanded them to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that He had commanded them (Matthew 28:19-20). Evangelism and discipleship go hand in hand. A disciple is one who observes (keeps, obeys) all that Jesus has commanded. There is no two-stage process in Christianity�first, be saved; then become a disciple. This arbitrary distinction is foreign to the New Testament and therefore foreign to Christianity.
To play off the title of Bonhoeffer�s book, let�s look at what Jesus said to His disciples about discipleship in Luke 14:25-33. In that passage, Jesus says to the crowds that no one can be His disciple unless they first hate their family (v. 26). Furthermore, the one who cannot bear his own cross cannot be His disciple (v. 27). Two conditions are given by Jesus in order to be His disciple. The first is to be willing to renounce family in order to follow Jesus. The second is to be willing to die, both literally and metaphorically (�die to self�) in order to follow Jesus. Jesus then gives two examples of �counting the cost.� The first is an example of a man who desires to build a tower without first counting the cost of building the tower. After realizing he cannot complete it, he gives up in shame and embarrassment. The second is that of a king preparing to go to battle and making sure he can defend against the superior foe. The point Jesus is making is that discipleship has a cost.
Furthermore, discipleship requires repentance and obedience. At the beginning of Jesus� ministry, the message He preached was a message of repentance (Matthew 4:17). The message of the apostles after Jesus� resurrection and ascension was also one of repentance (Acts 2:38). Along with repentance comes obedience. Jesus told a crowd of listeners that salvation and obedience go hand in hand: �Why do you call me �Lord, Lord,� and not do what I tell you?� (Luke 6:46). Jesus then goes on to differentiate the one who builds his house on the sand from the one who builds his house on the rock, that is, the man who not only hears the words of Jesus, but does them, too.
Cheap grace seeks to hide the cost of discipleship from people. It seeks to claim that as long as we make a profession of faith, we are saved. God�s grace covers all our sins. Again, that is a wonderful truth! The apostle Paul says as much when he writes, �Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord� (Romans 5:20-21). Yet, right after writing that, Paul follows it with this: �What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?� (Romans 6:1-2). Salvation by grace alone through faith alone is so much more than simply mouthing the words �Jesus is Lord.� We are not saved by a profession of faith. We are not saved by praying the Sinner�s Prayer. We are not saved by signing a card or walking an aisle. We are saved by a living and active faith (James 2:14-26), a faith that manifests itself in repentance, obedience and love of God and our neighbor. Salvation is not a transaction; it�s a transformation. Paul says it best when he says we are �new creations� in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). There is nothing �cheap� about grace!
Recommended Resources: So Great Salvation by Charles Ryrie and Logos Bible Software.
I do believe you had written the following concerning 'DISCIPLESHIP'
Furthermore, discipleship requires repentance and obedience. At the beginning of Jesus� ministry, the message He preached was a message of repentance (Matthew 4:17). The message of the apostles after Jesus� resurrection and ascension was also one of repentance (Acts 2:38). Along with repentance comes obedience. Jesus told a crowd of listeners that salvation and obedience go hand in hand: �Why do you call me �Lord, Lord,� and not do what I tell you?� (Luke 6:46). Jesus then goes on to differentiate the one who builds his house on the sand from the one who builds his house on the rock, that is, the man who not only hears the words of Jesus, but does them, too.
Cheap grace seeks to hide the cost of discipleship from people. It seeks to claim that as long as we make a profession of faith, we are saved. God�s grace covers all our sins. Again, that is a wonderful truth! The apostle Paul says as much when he writes, �Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord� (Romans 5:20-21). Yet, right after writing that, Paul follows it with this: �What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?� (Romans 6:1-2).
Salvation by grace alone through faith alone is so much more than simply mouthing the words �Jesus is Lord.� We are not saved by a profession of faith. We are not saved by praying the Sinner�s Prayer. We are not saved by signing a card or walking an aisle. We are saved by a living and active faith (James 2:14-26), a faith that manifests itself in repentance, obedience and love of God and our neighbor. Salvation is not a transaction; it�s a transformation. Paul says it best when he says we are �new creations� in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). There is nothing �cheap� about grace!
May we take a closer look into the Scripture concerning 'Discipleship'.
Mat 28:18 And coming up Jesus talked with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
Mat 28:19 Then having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.
Let us look into the words within this Scripture,as i believe people have been taught wrongly concerning 'DISCIPLESHIP'.
Verse 28 Authority- exousia
exousia: power to act, authority
Original Word: ἐξουσία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: exousia
Phonetic Spelling: (ex-oo-see'-ah)
Short Definition: power, authority, weight
Definition: (a) power, authority, weight, especially: moral authority, influence, (b) in a quasi-personal sense, derived from later Judaism, of a spiritual power, and hence of an earthly power.
HELPS Word-studies
1849 eksous�a (from 1537 /ek, "out from," which intensifies 1510 /eim�, "to be, being as a right or privilege") � authority, conferred power; delegated empowerment ("authorization"), operating in a designated jurisdiction.
In the NT, 1849 /eksous�a ("delegated power") refers to the authority God gives to His saints � authorizing them to act to the extent they are guided by faith (His revealed word).
Another way of saying this is to having 'RIGHT and MIGHT', GOD Almighty has the right to say and as He pleases as He has the power to back it up.
Verse 29
English- Disciple
Greek-math�teu�
math�teu�: to be a disciple, to make a disciple
Original Word: μαθητεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: math�teu�
Phonetic Spelling: (math-ayt-yoo'-o)
Short Definition: I make disciples, make into disciples
Definition: I make a disciple of, train in discipleship; pass: I am trained, discipled, instructed.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 3100 mathēte�ō (from 3101 /mathētḗs, "disciple") � to disciple, i.e. helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured, growing disciple (literally, "a learner," a true Christ-follower); to train (develop) in the truths of Scripture and the lifestyle required, i.e. helping a believer learn to be a disciple of Christ in belief and practice. See 3101 (mathētēs).
The root of this Greek word is to being a LEARNER of Yeshua,to knowing who He is,and to know what He is like.
English- Nations
Greek- ethnos
ethnos: a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct from Isr.)
Original Word: ἔθνος, ους, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: ethnos
Phonetic Spelling: (eth'-nos)
Short Definition: a race, people, the Gentiles
Definition: a race, people, nation; the nations, heathen world, Gentiles.
HELPS Word-studies
1484 �thnos (from ethō, "forming a custom, culture") � properly, people joined by practicing similar customs or common culture; nation(s), usually referring to unbelieving Gentiles (non-Jews).
English- Baptizing
Greek-baptizō
baptizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one�s self, bathe
3) to overwhelm
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from a derivative of G911
The tense of this word is that being a VERB in the Present Participle Active-Nominative Active Plural.
This baptizing INTO the name(s) of GOD is an ACTIVE on going participatory relationship betweenthe FATHER and His adopted son or daughter,where the Father reveals His name(s) to His child,and the child then is a living witness to the character,attitude,and personality of their Father.
1b) metaphorically to keep, one in the state in which he is
1c) to observe
1d) to reserve: to undergo something
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to G2334)
G2334
θεωρέω
theōreō
Thayer Definition:
1) to be a spectator, look at, behold
1a) to view attentively, take a view of, survey
1a1) to view mentally, consider
2) to see
2a) to perceive with the eyes, to enjoy the presence of one
2b) to discern, descry
2c) to ascertain, find out by seeing
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from a derivative of G2300 (perhaps by add. of G3708)
G2300
θεάομαι
theaomai
Thayer Definition:
1) to behold, look upon, view attentively, contemplate (often used of public shows)
1a) of important persons that are looked on with admiration
2) to view, take a view of
2a) in the sense of visiting, meeting with a person
3) to learn by looking, to see with the eyes, to perceive
Part of Speech: verb
G3708
ὁράω
horaō
Thayer Definition:
1) to see with the eyes
2) to see with the mind, to perceive, know
3) to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience
4) to see, to look to
4a) to take heed, beware
4b) to care for, pay heed to
5) I was seen, showed myself, appeared
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: properly, to stare at [compare G3700]
I believe we are putting a yoke of bondage upon the people by telling them they need to REPENT,and OBEY before they even begin to know who Messiah is,or to know what He is like.
The same goes for worship,a person cannot worship someone they know nothing about.
The COST for my being a DISCIPLE / LEARNER had been paid for in BLOOD by Messiah Yeshua.
Bonhoeffer: �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.� I find that these are concepts of the Church, particularly baptism and Communion. There is no such thing as Communion in the Bible so to confess for communion is . . . well, not necessary since Communion should not be practiced by the Church. The Bible does not talk about water baptism as a requirement for Christians but rather refers to becoming immersed into the nature of God (baptized into the Name, nature and character, of Jesus, which requires discipleship. If one is truly baptized in this sense then there is no need for discipline and if one is not then they are not a disciple and should be rejected. Jesus never disciplined His disciples but he taught them out of love. If grace has any association with the cross then it is the presence of Father with Jesus as he was tried, beaten and crucified, It is not grace we were shown on the cross but rather mercy. If you want to believe the dictionary then Grace is the unmerited favor of God. There is unmerited favor throughout the OLD Testament which was without the cross. Abraham, Moses, Ruth and David and the Prophets are good examples of such grace.
I believe grace is the empowering presence of God. It is this presence by which one is saved.
There is no such thing as cheap grace and no one has the power to cheapen the power of God. It is the very essence of God in us. It is the mind of Christ, the Divine within us, the force in us with which the world must reckon.
Very difficult subject to address because of wide spread misunderstanding about justification, sanctification, grace and repentance.
Although we are not saved by good works we are saved for them as Ephesians makes clear. None of us can produce good works perfectly and we often fall but if our lives do not indicate growth more and more in the direction of holiness (sanctification) then we have reason to doubt the reality of our salvation.
Yes indeed! As charles stanley stated as a question to ask oneself in the closing to one of his sermons" Does your life look more holy today than last year this time?"
That rang my bell!
Leviticus 20: 7-8
7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.
8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.
whilst we also know:
ROMANS 3:10
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
So we trust in our salvation by grace through faith and we strive to not sin because we love our savior! We do not do it to earn anything! Because God also said
Ephesians2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God . not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." From faith proceeds our works.
It is not my intent to put a yoke of bondage on anyone! What the intent of the OP is is to show that willingness to sin not falling into sin;cheapens grace.
