The Matter of Cheap Grace

235 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Well, this should take care of that gospel of cheap grace. If you are wondering what is meant by cheap grace, it simply means some people have the wrong notion that once you profess to be a Christian you can live as you please! No need to change or attempt to change, God is all love, all grace, and He certainly wouldn't send anyone to hell, especially one who says with their lips that they believe in God! But God's foundation is solid, it doesn't teeter, and it has a seal on it, and if you look at this seal, it says two things. (1) God knows who are truly His! He knows the heart! And a heart that has true saving faith will (2) seek to depart from iniquity! (Sin) Faith without works is dead! (James 2:17) Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his classic work, “The Cost of Discipleship” defined cheap grace as follows: Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. 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, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.” I would add here, “pick your cross up and start denying yourself the pleasures of sin! 1Jo 3:6 says, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” It's not that the Christian is sinless, but the one who truly professes Christ, doesn't blow off his sin with cheap grace! Rather he has godly sorrow over his sins and desires to turn (repent) from them. There are many areas where this cheap grace shows up today, but it is especially evident in the sin of fornication. (living in a sexual relationship outside the bounds of marriage) Have you not heard 1Co 6:9,10? “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” It doesn't have to be that way! Look at the next verse! “ 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Don't let these sins identify you! Be identified as a cross carrying child of God as you seek to turn from them and receive God's forgiveness through the blood bought expensive grace of the cross of Jesus!