How Can I Find True Comfort?

“COMFORT DOCTRINES” (9)

COMFORT DOCTRINE:A teaching designed to give comfort and remove the fear of consequences to one who refuses to repent of sinful activity.

In this study• We have examined several

“comfort doctrines”

• We have addressed key Biblical subjects that are at the foundation of exposing these teachings

“Cheap grace”• Our goal – to impress in our

minds that sin is NOT acceptable to God!

• Lest we minimize the need to change

• Lest we skew our perception of God

“Cheap grace”• Romans 6:1-4

• “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound”

• “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

“Cheap grace”• Romans 6:12

• “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies, that you should obey its lusts.”

• Comfort doctrines seek to permit sin to reign in us!

“Cheap grace”• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of

Discipleship, 1949

• "Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like a cheapjack's wares.  The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut-rate prices…

“Cheap grace”• “… Grace is represented as the

Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits…” Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 1949

“Cheap grace”• "Grace without price; grace

without cost!  And the essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing…Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”• “…Since the cost was infinite,

the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite.  What would grace be, if it were not cheap?” Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”• “…In such a Church the world

finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin . . .”        Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”• “Cheap grace means the

justification of sin without the justification of the sinner.  Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before.”   { p. 42}

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, (it is) baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession… Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”“…Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."  { p. 43-4}

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”• Cheap grace is the idea that

"grace" did it all for me so I do not need to change my lifestyle. The believer who accepts the idea of "cheap grace" thinks he can continue to live like the rest of the world… Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace”• “... Instead of following Christ in

a radical way, the Christian lost in cheap grace thinks he can simply enjoy the consolations of his grace.”

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace”"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...”

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace”“… It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake of one 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…

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace”“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.”

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace”“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...

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace”“…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. . . 

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace”“. . .   Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him;  it is grace because Jesus says:  "my yoke is easy and my burden light." { p. 45}

Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Comfort Doctrines”You CANNOT teach that God will overlook or fail to hold us accountable for our sins and still condemn those who refuse to totally submit to Him!

“Comfort Doctrines”Are “comfort doctrines” closer than we think? •Do we think we are the exception?•Do we use faulty reasoning?•Do we examine for ourselves?•Do we avoid certain subjects?•Are we worldly/materialistic?

What must I do?KNOW that God can be pleased!

•Psalm 149:4, Heb. 11:5Matt. 25:21, Heb. 13:16

•If God can be pleased, His expectations are not impossible• 2 Cor. 5:9

Will you come to God on His terms?

WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR COMFORT?