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My Journey to Life - Daily Study Guide

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Q7. What does the expression “cheap grace” mean in the context of growth in Christ?

Picture: Q7. What does the expression “cheap grace” mean in the context of growth in Christ? JTLD 239.1

Put simply, cheap grace is living like a Christian without any attempt to follow Jesus and His teachings. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism, or without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, satisfied living with our sinful carnal nature. It’s true that “we have redemption through Jesus’ blood from His death on Calvary’s cross, and complete forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). However, it’s also true that when Jesus calls a man or woman, He offers them His cross to carry. There is no shortcut to being a Christian, living as a disciple of Jesus! JTLD 239.2

To the Corinthians, Paul writes forcefully of the obligations of grace. First, he speaks of his own experience: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them [the apostles], though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul explains to us that he didn’t receive grace to lead a vain, empty or unsanctified life; but rather a life filled with the fruits of the Spirit. To be a genuine follower of Christ requires repentance, confession, baptism, and bearing the fruits of God’s love through the power of His amazing grace. JTLD 239.3

In Matthew 12, Jesus tells a parable of an empty house. When a demon has gone out of a person, it looks for a new person. When it finds none, it comes back to the original person. If they have not replaced the demon with new thoughts, new activities, and a new lifestyle, the demon comes back with a vengeance—and brings seven more demons! This illustrates the importance of a new Christian making better lifestyle choices that benefit the kingdom of heaven rather than Satan's fiefdom. JTLD 239.4