"Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth, the love of God taught as the Christian "conception" of God. An intellectual assent to that idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure remission of sins. The church which holds the correct doctrine of grace has, it is supposed, ipso facto a part of that grace. In such a Church the world finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin. Cheap grace therefore amounts to a denial of the living Word of God, in fact, a denial of the Incarnation of the Word of God. Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
p 43
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1906 – 1945
deutscher evang. Theologe und Widerstandskämpfer
95 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer →
Related Quotes
"We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds: we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivoc…"
"Beside the staff of life, taken and fashioned from the heavy earth, beside our marriage, work, and war the free man, …"
"One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries withi…"
"Greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one."
"There remains an experience of incomparable value. We have for once learned to see the great events of world history …"
"Nicht aus dem schweren Boden wo Blut und Geschlecht und Schwur mächtig und heilig sind, wo die Erde selbst gegen Wahn…"
"The activity will prove to be "peculiar" by leading the active person into Christ's own passion. This activity itself…"
"Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if …"
"Neither protest nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradicts one'…"
"When the spirit touches man's heart and brow with thoughts that are lofty, bold, serene, so that with clear eyes he w…"