“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
You may be thinking, “Todd, that’s awfully morbid to be talking about,” or, “Todd, you better not be dying on me anytime soon!” I would like to examine these words from a man who knew very well about the call from Christ, because this quotation is not talking about a physical death, though it is a possibility whilst living for Christ, but before I get into this I would like to talk about cheap grace.
Cheap Grace
“Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Cheap grace is like grace at a discount. Sold like it’s nothing at a pawnshop. Like using a credit card with no limit, when you have no money. Grace with no cost. Cheap grace looks like dressing, walking, and talking like the rest of the world, but saying, “I am a Christian, God will forgive me,” but without any true repentance. Cheap grace will let you think that it is alright to be living like you were before you were a Christian, except for the fact that you go to church. Let me ask a question, if you took away your “Christianity,” would anything change in your life? If the answer is no, then there is a chance that you are living through cheap grace which costs you nothing. Cheap grace is cheap because it isn’t worth the dirt you are standing on.
Costly Grace
“Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son… and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. 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.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Do you see? We are not called to follow the world and we are not called to enjoy filthy cheap grace. God has a much higher calling for his disciples. As followers of Christ, Christ demands our whole hearted devotion. In Matthew chapter 8 verses 18-22, we find a glimpse into how costly this grace is. A man wanting to follow Christ goes to Him asks to follow and Jesus kind of questions him and says that he might have no where to sleep. “Sir, are you sure you would like to follow me? You will be homeless. You will be treated as garbage. You might not be welcomed the places you will be going.” He turns away, dismayed. Too comfortable where he is at. The call is too costly for him. Then another man comes up asks to follow him, but he just wants to bury his father first. Jesus replies, “let the dead bury their own dead.” Basically telling him that he will needs to abandon his family, that the call of Christ does not wait. It needs radical action and fast. Now a man doesn’t necessarily want to follow Christ, but wants eternal life. In Mark chapter 10 verses 17-22, he asks,” how do I receive eternal life Jesus?” Jesus responds,”come on, you know to keep the commandments of God!” He replies, “I know that, I have kept all of those since my youth, but what am I missing? I know I’m missing something!” The God-Man says to him,” you’re right. You have kept all of these things. And yes, you have all of these things, but one thing you do lack. Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, then you will have treasure in heaven and, come, follow me.” The man looks at Jesus, cries and runs away, for he knew he had many possessions.
It is costly because you have to change the whole course of your life. You have to really live. You can’t take it easy, because, well, Jesus didn’t take it easy. It is grace because through His costliness you have redemption, you have eternal life. You have become a co-heir through and in Christ.
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
He bids us come to die to our self. So often in the States it is easy to be comfortable and not even attempt to expand your comfort zone. We have money we can rely on, our kids, our family and so many other things that we put in front of Jesus. He would rather us have Him than a home or food. He wants us to die to self because when we rely on these other things we are drawn not closer to Him, but further. He wants our attention, He is a jealous God. He wants our devotion, he doesn’t care about our devotion to baseball or football, our jobs, the clothes we wear. He wants us! We try to get along with the bare minimum, I know I’m guilty of it. I find myself sometimes saying, “yes God I’ll pray to you tonight.” I get in my bed and start praying, but I fall asleep in a minute or two. Or I find myself thinking, “I need to read my bible more often,” but only reading it in order to get through it, when I should be taking so much more time to read carefully in order to understand the text and to seek the Lord through His undying Word. I am guilty!
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever saves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.'” Matthew 16:24-28
I want to encourage you at home. Don’t be caught up in cheap grace. It cost God a lot. Shouldn’t it also cost you? Seek that grace because it is true grace. Search through the Bible to understand this call more. Don’t rest thinking all is well, examine yourself through the scope of scripture. Seek righteousness. Don’t be afraid to die to yourself.
