As we have discussed in this blog and in my book, there are many passages in the Bible which requires we do more than just believe in Jesus and his death for our sins in order to be saved. Unlike many, Dietrich Bonhoeffer dealt with these Biblical passages rather than ignoring them. While I do not think he would agree with all my conclusions, Bonhoeffer does criticize the view that all we need to do is to give intellectual assent to Jesus and his work for our sins. He terms such a view as “cheap grace”. [1] Cheap grace is a grace that costs us nothing. It is a grace that means I can sin as much as I like knowing that God’s grace will cover me. [2]
Why does Bonhoeffer believe grace is costly? If we are disciples of Christ, we must bear the sins of others [3] which means we are to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 ESV) Paul and Jesus both state that we should be willing to be wronged (suffer financially, suffer the loss of a right) rather than bring a suit in court against a fellow Christian (Matthew 5:40 and I Corinthians 6:7). We must face the call of Christ alone because Christ has told us, we must be willing to leave our families and give up our lives to follow Christ (Luke 14:26) [4]. The call of Christ requires a complete breach with the world. [5] That God requires more of us than just to believe is without question if one considers what the whole Bible says about salvation.
Bonhoeffer believed the Reformation rightly taught that grace alone can save but left out the obligations of discipleship. As a result, cheap grace entered our theology [6] and we Christians are more like the world than like Christ.
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[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. Translated by R. H. Fuller. New York: Touchstone Book, 1995, p. 43.
[2] Bonhoeffer, p. 50.
[3] Bonhoeffer, p. 90.
[4] Bonhoeffer, p. 94.
[5] Bonhoeffer, p. 96.
[6] Bonhoeffer, pp. 49-50.
