If we are saved by God’s grace anyway, why don’t we just continue to live in sin?
With the above question in mind, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book The Cost of Discipleship, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.” In contrast, he suggests, “Costly grace…is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.” In what ways do you experience God’s grace as costly? In what ways do you experience God’s grace as cheap? Can (or should) it be both?
If you cannot achieve your own salvation by good works, what role do good works have in a Christian’s life? According to Paul? According to Bonhoeffer? For you?
Think of the baptisms you remember witnessing. Think about what you may have been told about your own baptism (or ask someone to tell you). Why do we baptize? According to Paul, what happens in baptism? What does this mean for us who are baptized? Read again 6:3-14.
What symbols do we use to represent baptism in the church? Which symbols holds the most meaning for you? Why?
Lutherans teach that the law functions as 1) a mirror (to reveal sin), 2) a measuring stick (to order society), and 3) a guide (to direct Christian living). Read again 7:7-13 – what function of the law does Paul describe? If we agree with what Paul says here, how might we live and act differently as Christians saved by God’s grace who have been gifted with God’s law?
In 8:15-17 Paul describes us as children of God. In what ways does/has your family reflected on you? Influenced you? In what ways does/can/should your membership in God’s family do the same?
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1 comment:
Nice blog...I hope it is ok to respond...
The "cheap Grace" argument has hounded Lutheranism since the time of Luther. It is somewhat alien to us in America that we can receive something of value for free. We need to work hard and we will be rewarded. I find ultimate peace in knowing that salvation has already been purchased for me. Since my price has been paid I can now just do good for good's sake. I am doing good on a clean slate...I'm not digging out of the bottomless hole (that I deserve). We can be at peace while doing good. How very cool is that!
Just because something is free to us does not mean that it is cheap or paid for without cost. Do we get a Christmas gift and throw it in the corner because it was paid for by someone else and thus "cheap" to us? Now if we can be thankful for a gift bought with money how can we say that the "gift of grace" that was bought with holy blood, suffering, and death is cheap. Just because we do not have to earn the gift does not make it cheap nor does it mean that we should not be thankful.
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