This Sunday, a group of young men and women will confirm their baptisms. It is a great joy to welcome them to the Christian Church. As these new Christians take a major step in their faith journey, it seems a good time to remind us all of the difference between cheap grace and costly grace.

"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, and grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer,The Cost of Discipleship

 

"Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it, a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy for 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."

Bonhoeffer, ibid

 

May our young people forever follow the Risen Christ!