Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian, is best known for his influential book “The Cost of Discipleship.” This book explores the true meaning of following Christ and the challenges that come with it. Bonhoeffer’s quotes from this book continue to inspire and challenge believers worldwide. In this article, we will dive into some of the most impactful quotes from “The Cost of Discipleship.”
Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship” emphasizes the importance of true discipleship and the commitment it requires. He argues that being a disciple of Christ is not merely a matter of believing in Jesus, but it also involves complete obedience and surrender to His teachings. Bonhoeffer challenges believers to take up their cross and follow Jesus, no matter the cost.
Now, let’s explore some of the thought-provoking quotes from “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
Read these Dietrich Bonhoeffer The Cost of Discipleship Quotes
“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession… Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship, we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death.”
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
“The only man who has the right to say that he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ.”
“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”
“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.”
“Discipleship means adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship.”
“The call to follow Jesus disrupts all our preconceived ideas, our comfortable lives, and our selfish desires. It demands a complete reorientation of our priorities and a willingness to embrace the unknown.”
“The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise God-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
“Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Christ.”
“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjack’s wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost!”
“The first step which follows the call of Jesus is always inward—into solitude, into ourselves. That is where we encounter Him most closely. Time alone with Him is the first sign of our discipleship.”
“The followers of Jesus have been called to peace. They do not fight with the weapons of the world. Their weapon is the cross.”
“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”
“The messengers of Jesus will be hated to the end of time. They will be blamed for all the division which rend cities and homes. Jesus and his disciples will be condemned on all sides for undermining family life, and for leading the nation astray; they will be called crazy fanatics and disturbers of the peace.”
“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ.”
“The Christian is a man who no longer seeks his salvation, his deliverance, his justification in himself, but in Jesus Christ alone.”
“If we want to be Christians, we must have some share in Christ’s large-heartedness by acting with responsibility and in freedom when the hour of danger comes, and by showing a real sympathy that springs, not from fear, but from the liberating and redeeming love of Christ for all who suffer.”
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”
“The followers of Jesus will be those who go against the current, who swim upstream, who reject the norm and choose the narrow path.”
“When we pray for the success of our cause, we are praying for the extension of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is where Jesus Christ rules in righteousness and peace and joy through the Holy Spirit. We pray for the success of our cause when it is the cause of Christ.”
“Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak.”
These quotes from “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer serve as a reminder of the challenging yet transformative nature of true discipleship. They call us to reflect on our commitment to Christ and the sacrifices required to follow Him faithfully. May these quotes inspire and encourage us to live out our faith with wholehearted devotion and unwavering obedience.
