--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a…" description: "\"“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 th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_cheap-grace_cheap-grace-means-grace-as-a-doctrine-a_1963599.jpg" --- # Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a… ![“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.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_cheap-grace_cheap-grace-means-grace-as-a-doctrine-a_1963599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_cheap-grace_cheap-grace-means-grace-as-a-doctrine-a_1963599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_cheap-grace_cheap-grace-means-grace-as-a-doctrine-a_1963599.jpg) > ““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.”” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that “cheap grace” reduces forgiveness to a doctrine, lacking true transformation and commitment. **In simple terms:** Grace must be costly, not just theory. Key Takeaway Seek deep, costly grace. Themes theology ethics spirituality Mood serious reflective Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church teaching - personal repentance - mission work Key Concepts grace faith commitment Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure the depth of your faith? - What costs are you willing to bear for grace? A Different Perspective Cheap grace can be comforting but superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheap grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-grace/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiveness of sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-of-sins/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Grace Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-doctrine-1219111/) [Grace Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-means/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-god/) [Means Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-grace-467879/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [My yoke is easy, and my burden light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-boniface/my-yoke-is-easy-and-my-burden-light/) [Saint Boniface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-boniface/) > [“Grace is not a doctrine or a religion. It is a person, Jesus Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/grace-is-not-a-doctrine-or-a-religion-it-is-a-person-jesus-christ/) [John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/) > [All outward means of grace, if separate from the spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/all-outward-means-of-grace-if-separate-from-the-spirit-of-god-cannot/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“For the rest of mankind to be with Christ means death, but for Christians it is a means of grace. Baptism is their assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/for-the-rest-of-mankind-to-be-with-christ-means-death-but-for/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-preaching-of-forgiveness-without-requiring/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-essence-of-grace-we-suppose-is-that-the-account-has-been-paid-in/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all he has.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/costly-grace-is-the-treasure-hidden-in-the-field-for-the-sake-of-it-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Cheap grace is the idea that "grace" did it all for me so I do not need to change my lifestyle. The believer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-idea-that-grace-did-it-all-for-me-so-i-do-not-need/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“...do we realize that this cheap grace has turned back upon us like a boomerang? The price we are having to pay today in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/do-we-realize-that-this-cheap-grace-has-turned-back-upon-us-like-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Cheap grace is grace without discipleship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-grace-without-discipleship/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-deadly-enemy-of-our-church-we-are-fighting-today/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be-sought-again-and-again-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The word of cheap grace has been the ruin of more Christians than any commandment of works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-word-of-cheap-grace-has-been-the-ruin-of-more-christians-than-any/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-grace-we-bestow-on-ourselves-cheap-grace-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-grace-without-discipleship-grace-without-the-cross/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Cheap grace quotes > [“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-preaching-of-forgiveness-without-requiring/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Cheap grace replaces truth with tolerance, lowering the bar so everyone can jump over it and we can all feel good about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/cheap-grace-replaces-truth-with-tolerance-lowering-the-bar-so/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-grace-we-bestow-on-ourselves-cheap-grace-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The word of cheap grace has been the ruin of more Christians than any commandment of works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-word-of-cheap-grace-has-been-the-ruin-of-more-christians-than-any/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Jesus never concealed the fact that his religion included a demand as well as an offer. Indeed, the demand was as total as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/jesus-never-concealed-the-fact-that-his-religion-included-a-demand-as/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Where are the people today who will respond to the call of Christ? Have we become so accustomed to “cheap grace” that we instinctively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/where-are-the-people-today-who-will-respond-to-the-call-of-christ/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be-sought-again-and-again-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Christ did not suffer and die to offer cheap grace. Jesus did not go willingly to the cross so we could have an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/christ-did-not-suffer-and-die-to-offer-cheap-grace-jesus-did-not-go/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Do not think that your crying and complaints can force Jesus to become sentimental and then give Himself out so cheaply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/do-not-think-that-your-crying-and-complaints-can-force-jesus-to/) [T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/) > [Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-deadly-enemy-of-our-church-we-are-fighting-today/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We have suffered from the preaching of cheap grace. Grace is free, but it is not cheap. People will take anything that is free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-have-suffered-from-the-preaching-of-cheap-grace-grace-is-free-but/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Cheap grace is grace without discipleship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-grace-without-discipleship/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“If Roman Catholic Christianity has always struggled with the threat of works righteousness, Reformed Protestantism has always struggled with the threat of cheap grace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-t-smith/if-roman-catholic-christianity-has-always-struggled-with-the-threat/) [Gordon T. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-t-smith/) > [My yoke is easy, and my burden light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-boniface/my-yoke-is-easy-and-my-burden-light/) [Saint Boniface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-boniface/) > [“...do we realize that this cheap grace has turned back upon us like a boomerang? The price we are having to pay today in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/do-we-realize-that-this-cheap-grace-has-turned-back-upon-us-like-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Browse all 22 Cheap grace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-grace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. 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