--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Costly grace is the gospel which must be…" description: "\"Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.\" — Dietrich Bonh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_again-and-again_costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be_1326802.jpg" --- # Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and… ![“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_again-and-again_costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be_1326802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_again-and-again_costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be_1326802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_again-and-again_costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be_1326802.jpg) > “Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.” [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. Grace must be actively pursued, requested, and approached repeatedly, implying that divine favor is not passive but earned through persistence. **In simple terms:** Grace requires continual seeking and asking. Key Takeaway Persistently pursue grace. Themes faith perseverance spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type theological motivational When to use this quote - prayer - mission work - personal crisis - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts theology divine gift human effort Questions to Reflect On - How does repeated seeking affect one's faith? - What does it mean to 'knock' on a spiritual door? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheap grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-grace/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) ## Related quotes > [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 means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-means-grace-sold-on-the-market-like-cheapjacks-wares-the/) [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/) > [“...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/) > [“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/costly-grace-is-the-gospel-which-must-be-sought-again-and-again-and/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth, the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-means-grace-as-a-doctrine-a-principle-a-system-it-means/) [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/) > [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 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/) > [When we grasp that we are unworthy sinners saved by an infinitely costly grace, it destroys both our self-righteousn ess and our need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-we-grasp-that-we-are-unworthy-sinners-saved-by-an-infinitely/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“But we know that true grace comes to us by costly sacrifice. And if God was willing to go to the cross and endure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/but-we-know-that-true-grace-comes-to-us-by-costly-sacrifice-and-if/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## 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 Again and again quotes > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. 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