The Gospel of Costly Grace

from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again . . . .

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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: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. 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.
 
Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
 
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945) was, says Wikipedia, “a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church.” The quotations above come from his 1937 book, The Cost of Discipleship.
 
The words I found especially compelling from Bonhoeffer about the gospel of costly grace are these. “It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.”
 
Many today want a grace that accepts the sinner by excusing sin, as if God doesn’t care about sin, as if it costs God nothing to forgive, as if there is no expectation that we repent and seek transformation. Bonhoeffer called this cheap grace. True grace is costly because it “cost God the life of his Son.”
 
Bonhoeffer’s resistance to the Nazi government was borne out of his loyalty to Jesus, and it cost him dearly. He was executed in the final days of the Nazi regime. He fulfilled what has become perhaps his most famous quote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
 
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave them below.
 
Next post: January 2, 2024, “Reign of the True King” from Tim Mackie
 
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The Word Became Flesh

from John, a friend of Jesus

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-5, 14, NIV

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Years ago I met and had a conversation with one of my favorite authors. It’s as if I already knew him from his books and articles, which I had quoted many times. I admired his courage to ask the hard questions, even when he didn’t know where they would lead.

As it turned out, this author was all I expected and more. I found him to be humble and personable and genuinely caring. Then I introduced him to a crowd of about a thousand, eager to hear him speak.

The Word of the Old Testament had already taught us that God is perfectly just and merciful, righteous and holy, faithful and unfailing, slow to anger and abounding in love. In the Hebrew scriptures we learned what God hates and what God loves. We discovered the holiness this holy God desires from us. We meet a God who would rather bless than curse, forgive than punish, restore than destroy.

In Jesus we meet the Word in person. “The one and only Son” is the fullest expression of God. In him we see God’s glory face to face. He is all we expected and more.

E. Stanley Jones, the renowned Methodist missionary a century ago, said that John 1:14 was perhaps the most important verse in the Bible. He wrote an entire book, The Word Became Flesh, with 364 devotionals based on that one verse.

In the Old Testament God’s presence was made known to the Israelites, veiled in a dense cloud at the sacred tent called the Tabernacle. Now, God’s presence is made known to us in the unveiled tent of flesh in the person of Jesus.

And we have found him to be “full of grace and truth” (NIV), “full of unfailing love and faithfulness” (NLT). And the good news is that God is like Jesus.

I welcome your comments below.

Next post: December 29, 2023, “The Gospel of Costly Grace” from Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Mercy from Generation to Generation

from Mary, the mother of Jesus

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.

"He shows mercy from generation to generation

    to all who fear him.

His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

  He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

He has brought down princes from their thrones

  and exalted the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

  and sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has helped his servant Israel

  and remembered to be merciful.

For he made this promise to our ancestors,

  to Abraham and his children forever.”

128 words; Luke 1:46-55 NLT

I contend that Mary and/or her family members were among the eyewitnesses Luke interviewed before composing his “orderly account” of Jesus’s life (Luke 1:2-3 NIV). The first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel reflect Mary’s point of view, while Matthew’s Gospel puts Joseph center stage of the birth narrative.

Mary’s song is historically called the Magnificat from the first word in the Latin translation. You will find parallels here to Hannah’s song, who praised God for her miracle child (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

The first part of Mary’s song is personal, praising God for what he has done for her. She isn’t specific about that, but the angel Gabriel and her cousin Elizabeth have already let us know what God has done. She is a “lowly servant girl” who will forever be called blessed for being, as Elizabeth says, “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43).

Then Mary begins her OMG. Through her son the Messiah, our merciful and mighty God shows favor through all generations to “all who fear him,” to the humble and hungry.

In contrast, God brings judgment upon “the proud and haughty,” princes (not known for being humble) and the rich (who are never hungry and are rarely generous with those who are). This reversal is common in Luke’s Gospel where the oppressed and outcast are, in God’s kingdom, lifted up.

No wonder Timothy is instructed to tell rich Christians “…to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others” (1 Timothy 6:18 NLT).

If the gospel we proclaim does not sound like good news to the poor, forgotten, abandoned, hungry, and oppressed, then it’s not truly the gospel—or at least not all of it.

Next post: Tuesday, December 26, “The Word Became Flesh” from John, a friend of Jesus

Please comment below. Thanks.

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Receive Abundant Life

from Wes Johnson

It is revealed in the Bible that God wants each person to live an abundant, purposeful life with God.  God’s design for your life is to walk with you, through the Holy Spirit, to guide and strengthen you to live humbly, yet confidently for God’s purposes. 

You receive this full abundant life by first, trusting Jesus’ death on the cross has saved you from a self-centered life which darkens your vision to God’s ways.

Secondly, by trusting Jesus’ redemption will keep transforming you into the person God created you to be until your desires are the same as God’s desires.

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Wes and I were introduced to each other last month by a mutual friend. He is pastor of Living Hope Family Church of Sebeka, Minnesota. He is also founder of Grace³ Ministries, “proclaiming holiness of heart and life.”

You can tell Wes has put a great deal of reflection into this OMG. He states the goal of the Christian life in a few ways:

• “to live an abundant, purposeful life with God,”
• “to live humbly, yet confidently for God’s purposes,”
• to be transformed “until your desires are the same as God’s desires.”

I appreciate the bookends in this OMG, “God wants” in the first sentence and “God’s desires” in the last. The gospel starts and ends with God.

He outlines two steps to receive this “full abundant life” (John 10:10). First, we experience justification by “trusting in Jesus’ death.” I like how Wes describes our sin and idolatry. He calls it “a self-centered life which darkens your vision to God’s ways.”

Second, “trusting Jesus’ redemption will keep transforming you.” He avoids theological jargon and makes the goal of sanctification accessible.

I love hearing from you! Please add a comment.

Next post: Friday, December 22 “Mercy from Generation to Generation” from Mary, the mother of Jesus

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Hide and Seek

from Bracken Sheldon

Like a game of hide and seek,

but we each got lost the longer we looked

for a place to hide.

Lost in perfectionism.
Lost in work.
Lost in public opinion.
Lost in an escape from reality.
Lost in family politics.
Lost in being better than the Joneses.
Lost in pleasure.
Lost. Lost. Really lost.

I AM seeking.

Looking where you wandered.

Looking where you fell.

Looking with eyes of love.

Looking with a heart of compassion.

Until you are found in Me.

Until your wounds are healed.

Until you are safe in My Arms.

Lost no more.

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I met Bracken years ago when he was a teen in my brother’s youth group. For a while I got to be his pastor, and I count him as my friend. After some stints as a pastor and other occupations, Bracken is now aiming toward ordination next year in the Church of the Nazarene. His calling is to be an evangelist and to strengthen churches in renewal and evangelism.

Bracken’s OMG reminds me I am so lost that I cannot fathom how lost I am. But I am never so lost that God cannot find me.

For those who may not be familiar, “I AM” refers to Yahweh, the name of God in the Old Testament, usually translated with all caps as LORD.

This OMG points us to Jesus who says, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). “…the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3).

“And when he has found [his lost sheep], he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders” (Luke 15:5). Or as the Shepherd says in this OMG, “…safe in My Arms. Lost no more.”

Please leave a comment below.

Next post: Tuesday, December 19, “Receive Abundant Life” from Wes Johnson

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Grace, Hope, Mercy Where None Should Be Found

from Rachael Denhollander

Should you ever reach the point of truly facing what you have done, the guilt will be crushing. And that is what makes the gospel of Christ so sweet. Because it extends grace and hope and mercy where none should be found. And it will be there for you.

I pray you experience the soul-crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me—though I extend that to you as well.

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Occasionally, I will stray from posting the OMGs of only pastors and professors, and today is one of those. These words were spoken in court by Rachael Denhollander to Larry Nassar, the former doctor at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics who had sexually abused her and dozens of other girls. While calling for the maximum penalty for Nassar at his sentencing, at one point Denhollander looked him in the eyes as she spoke these words. You may want to read them again now.

I found the quote above in Joshua M. McNall's book, How Jesus Saves: Atonement for Ordinary People. The full transcript of her heart-rending but compelling testimony can be found on CNN’s website.

God’s wrath is also good news. Justice will ultimately prevail. In the sentence before this quote, Denhollander says to Nassar, “The Bible . . . carries a final judgment where all of God’s wrath and eternal terror is poured out on men like you.” And yet she offers him the gospel, which “extends grace and hope and mercy where none should be found.”                                                                                                              

Perhaps this is how the Apostle Paul felt when he humbly confessed, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).

What’s your reaction to Rachael Denhollander’s OMG? Share a comment below.

Next post: Friday, December 15, “Hide and Seek” from Bracken Sheldon

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The Greatest Love

from Fr. Jayden A.M. Hagood

For many Christians, the Old Testament can be a minor hang up for the New Testament. However, Jesus summed up the whole of the Law and the Prophets in 53 words in Matthew 22:37-40, but take note there is only one thing they have in common, love.

What does Christ teach us that love is?

The answer, John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Following that, we are met with the Cross of Calvary, where John 15:13 played out to its fullest, and we learn of the good news of God’s love for humanity.

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I knew Jayden when he was a teen at my church in Lincoln. Since then he has become ordained in the Old Catholic Church of the Americas, part of a movement that separated from the Roman Catholic Church in 1874. Old Catholics share similar beliefs with Roman Catholics, except they do not require clergy to be celibate and do not believe in papal infallibility and supremacy. Jayden is a bishop-elect and serves congregations in Lincoln and North Platte.

The good news is always an announcement, and the foundation of that announcement is, as Jayden says, “God’s love for humanity.” This love was supremely demonstrated in Jesus and his willingness to die on the cross for us. The Apostle Paul says succinctly, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV).

We must never proclaim a gospel that does not lift up God's love for sinners. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

Thoughts? Encouragements? Complaints? Share your comments below.

Next post: Tuesday, December 12, “Grace, Hope, Mercy Where None Should Be Found” from Rachael Denhollander

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Gospel for Toddlers and Elephants

from Timothy Keller

The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore.

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If I had to put [the gospel] in a single statement, I might do it like this: Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.

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Tim Keller died in May of this year after a prolific career as a Presbyterian pastor, speaker, author, and apologist. The two quotes above are taken from the article, “The Gospel in All Its Forms.” It’s an important piece for expanding our understanding of the gospel.

Keller contends that “…there must be one gospel, yet there are clearly different forms in which that one gospel can be expressed,” and he cites how the Apostle Paul presented the gospel differently in various contexts.

He also adds, “Theoretically, grasping the full outline should make Christians interested in both evangelistic conversions as well as service to our neighbor and working for peace and justice in the world.” 

The ultimate destination of the saved is not a disembodied eternity in heaven; it’s a restored creation, where heaven and earth are united in holy community. And if God plans to restore creation then, certainly he wants us to join him in that work now. The vision of a restored creation is part of the gospel.

Hope you’ll leave a comment.

Next post: Friday, December 8, “The Greatest Love,” from Jayden Haygood

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"Second Adam”

from Charles Wesley

Christ, by highest heav’n adored;

Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come,

offspring of the Virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail th’incarnate Deity;

pleased as man with men to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”

Come, Desire of Nations, come,

fix in us Thy humble home;

Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,

bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Adam’s likeness now efface,

stamp Thine image in its place;

Second Adam from above,

reinstate us in Thy love.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”

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Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s tune, my favorite Christmas carol is Charles Wesley’s, “Hymn for Christmas-Day,“ known to us as “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” I always smile when I hear it at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, and it was a staple at my Christmas Eve services. Charles was John Wesley’s younger brother and wrote the lyrics to more than 6500 hymns!

Here we have two of Charles Wesley’s verses, though the latter may not be familiar to you. It was included in the new hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise, which is where I found it.

The third line strikes me as odd, “Late in time behold him come.” Was Jesus late? Wesley would never have said that. It simply means the arrival of the “incarnate Deity” marks the beginning of the last days.

The latter stanza also refers to Jesus as “Desire of Nations,” citing Haggai 2:7, “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come” (KJV). Jesus meets our deepest desires, when he sets up residence within us.

The third and fourth lines take us back to God’s curse upon the serpent in Genesis 3. Jesus is the seed of the woman who will bruise (crush) the serpent’s head. Then in lines 5-8 Adam is the representative of humanity, and we each bear his sinful likeness. But Jesus has come as the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:22, 45), representative of the new creation and a new humanity, so that we may bear his righteous image and be reinstated into right relationship with God.

This hymn has so much gospel in it! Thank you, Charles!

Please leave a quick comment below! Thanks. 

Next post: Tuesday, December 5, "Gospel for Toddlers and Elephants" from Tim Keller

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