Searching the internet for “the most valuable thing in the universe” revealed some interesting perspectives on what man considers valuable or expensive.
There were lists... of 25 things, of 40, and even single objects declared as the most expensive and valuable in all the universe. There were objects.. like homes, cars, diamonds; there were substances like chemical formulas that produce drugs that cure diseases and save lives. You won't believe what a plutonium pellet is worth. Plutonium is a core substance in the manufacture of nuclear energy, and worse, weapons.
There was no mention of anything related to God... or the Cross... or Jesus Christ... or Eternal Salvation. Nothing at all. Seems to me those would be the most valuable things in the universe. If man sets his eyes on special things of the world, considering them priceless, then I guess the “things of God” are worthless, cheap, of little value in a secular world? (Psalm 119)
God offers an unimaginable thing of value to anyone who will accept it. He offers it FREE... unlike the priceless nature of what man considers valuable. It’s called GRACE.
Several years ago, in the 1930’s in Germany, a book was written by the German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, called The Cost of Discipleship. It is considered to be a classic of Christian thought.
One of the most quoted parts of the book deals with the distinction that Bonhoeffer makes between "cheap" and "costly" grace. He first offers a definition of what he considered to be "cheap" grace. In Bonhoeffer's words: "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."
Or, even more clearly, it is to hear the gospel preached as follows... "Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness." Cheap grace means living as though God ignores or condones our sins. The main deficit of such an idea is that it contains no demand for discipleship, life transformation and attitude change. Cheap grace is an ideal solution for those who want their cake and also want to eat it... you can accept God’s grace, supposedly being expunged of sin, and continue to live a sinful life.
Bonhoeffer continues by painting a contrasting view... that being a definition of costly grace: "costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." "
Bonhoeffer builds a solid case in his book that asChristianity grew through ages, the Church became more "secularized", accommodating the demands of obedience to Jesus to the social and cultural requirements of society. In this way, "the world was Christianized, and grace became its common property." But the hazard of this thinking was that the gospel was cheapened, and obedience to the living Christ was gradually lost beneath self-interest, formula and ritual, so that in the end, grace could literally be applied to almost anyone like an ointment that inoculates a person against the ravages of sin.
The cheap grace approach emphasizes God’s grace but denies the importance of obedience. In practice, salvation becomes a free ticket to heaven without any obligations in the meantime. Obedience is seen as a desirable but optional part of the Christian life.
The idea of carnal Christianity essentially teaches that as long as one makes a profession of faith in Christ, he or she is saved (Romans 10:9), even if there is no immediate, or sustained obedience to the commands of Jesus and the apostles teachings to live a life of holiness. It is the idea that we can have Jesus as Savior, but not necessarily as Lord. People who advocate for cheap grace Christianity, participate in good works and try and do good for people, but their actions and lifestyle reveals a distinguish between salvation and sanctification, which is a life of discipleship.
Cheap grace suits the desired lifestyle of sinful mankind, no doubt about that. Jesus can save me, but he’s NOT my leader! True biblical teaching and important themes in Scripture are all but ignored to accommodate man’s self-interest. Grace is about responding to Jesus, who died on the Cross to make Grace, God’s free gift of a second chance possible for humanity. Jesus said to all of us... “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Mat. 11:28). He also said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John. 14:15).
Ah, I think that’s the key don’t you? If you love me...? Bonhoeffer further amplifies the differences between cheap grace and costly grace in these words:
“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...”
“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 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...”
“Such grace is costly 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. . . 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.”
It is essential to understand the nature of and proper motivation for obedience. Obedience seen as a means to earn God’s approval is a terrible burden, but that is not the only way to approach obedience, nor is it the way God wants us to approach it. If we start with God’s gracious acceptance of us, then obedience becomes the “thanks offering” of a grateful heart. Only then will be be able to become like the man who joyfully sold all that he had in order to obtain the precious treasure that he had discovered. We will come to a point that we desire to bring joy to the heart of our Heavenly Father by our acts of obedience.
Here’s something to think about: Maybe you already know the Lord, but the way you know Him isn’t working for you. You’re not enjoying the relationship.
Here’s the real deal: You can fulfill the commands of the Bible better by falling in love with God than by trying to obey everything you think He is demanding of you.
It’s not that our obedience to God isn’t significant or relevant; it’s simply not the center of the wheel of our lives. Not at all. The hub of our lives is our relationship with God. A relationship based on our love for Him and His love for us. We are to be in a symbiotic relationship with His love and our love intertwined in dependency. Our behavior and obedience radiate like spokes from the center of our lives and allow us to roll forward. Movement in the Lord, is discipleship, growing, being transformed. Love is the fuel, the energy, that keeps us moving in His direction.
When we put our external behavior as the driving force of our Christian lives, we get stuck.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). Many of us read that verse wrong. We have because of legalistic influences read it this way: “If you love me, you will obey me and prove how much you love me.” But what He's really saying is that when we love Him, our obedience to Him will flow out of that relationship and desire to be His instrument.
I’m afraid that most of us don’t grasp the enormous extravagance of our Father’s love and the lengths to which He’s willing to go to show His love. That’s why the Apostle Paul prayed that we might know and understand it more and more (Ephesians 3). God’s LOVE is the most valuable thing in the universe. It’s FREE to all by His loving expression of Grace... Salvation through Jesus Christ. Live your life in LOVE with the Lord, not the things of this world!
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes... I will know nothing of evil (Psalm 101:3-4).
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col 3:2 KJV).
As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2Cor 4:18 ESV)
BEING A CHRISTIAN ONLY WORKS IF YOU’RE IN LOVE... with GOD!
