The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is.
“The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus. 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. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. 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.Ĭostly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.Ĭostly grace is the treasure hidden in the field for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. What would grace be if it were not cheap?.Ĭheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.
Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. Grace without price grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. “Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares.
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