“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
- Matthew 13:44-46
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
- Mark 1:16-20
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
- Luke 14:27
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
- Matthew 10:38
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
“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.
“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.
“Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace 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: ‘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.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (Costly Grace)
It is mindboggling that God would send His Son to die in our place, but it is ludicrous if we take the modern view that it costs us nothing. Sure, we cannot buy salvation. We cannot work our way into salvation. It came at a great price, but we have nothing within us to deserve grace.
Note the Matthew 10 version of taking up one’s cross compared to the Luke version. Luke says that without taking up one’s cross, we cannot be a disciple of Christ, but Matthew goes further to say we are unworthy. Yet, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. How unworthy do you have to be? It is not what we give, nor what we do, it is the condition of the heart. Are we willing to give up everything to get it?
Sure, people logically argue that we cannot take it with us, but do we live our lives that way every day?
Just putting that last question on paper caused me to rethink my cleaning of the house. More is going in the trash. More is being donated. Why save a book that my wife and I loved reading when our grandchildren hardly ever open a book – most of their schoolwork done over an iPad.
But let’s look at cheap grace. Bonhoeffer calls cheap grace the kind of “grace” that is without repentance, discipline, and confession. It is grace without following Jesus, without the cross of Christ, indeed, without Jesus Christ.
It is costly because it costs us our lives, an unconditional surrender to God. But it is grace in that God’s Son paid the price and we do not have to do that. In fact, we can do nothing that will impress God. We may not think so, but our stuff stinks.
Lord, guide me. Whenever I write about this topic, I am pointing as many fingers at me as I might anyone else. I do not deserve to be Your servant, but I believe You called me to the task. Wherever You go or wherever You guide me, I will be there, no matter the cost. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
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