Bonhoeffer: Cheap Grace

[ChurchSoldier]

From “The Cost of Discipleship”. I thought of this as interpretation of Amoris Laetitia is being widely discussed. I have wondered if the present thought on AL is really a “cheapening” of grace in an attempt to make the Gospel more palatable to our modern society. I particularly appreciate in the last paragraph his corollary of cheap grace as “communion without confession”-(from a Lutheran no less!)

Your thoughts are welcome.

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

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake
of it, a man will 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.

Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like
cheapjacks’ 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 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. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of
using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if
it were not cheap?

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.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Excerpts from The Cost of Discipleship

 

[1neophyte]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. This is why the Cross is a stumbling block. It doesn’t work in the logical “do that, get this” way that makes sense to us. If you want something that makes sense, don’t look to Jesus.

“Our desire to please you is itself Your gift,” goes the beautiful phrase found in the mass. If we look at it any other way, if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned. All we can do is cooperate with it the best we can. If you don’t understand that God is gifting every human being with grace at every moment, even the worst and most disobedient sinners at their worst and most disobedient moments, then you don’t know God. Anyone confused by AL is confused about God, the same way the prodigal son’s brother was confused. It’s a terrible way to live, but God still provides grace even to those older brothers despite their confusion and stubborn refusal to cooperate.

If we are not rejoicing in this, we are in error.

 

[RCinMT]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. This is why the Cross is a stumbling block. It doesn’t work in the logical “do that, get this” way that makes sense to us. If you want something that makes sense, don’t look to Jesus.

“Our desire to please you is itself Your gift,” goes the beautiful phrase found in the mass. If we look at it any other way, if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned. All we can do is cooperate with it the best we can. If you don’t understand that God is gifting every human being with grace at every moment, even the worst and most disobedient sinners at their worst and most disobedient moments, then you don’t know God. Anyone confused by AL is confused about God, the same way the prodigal son’s brother was confused. It’s a terrible way to live, but God still provides grace even to those older brothers despite their confusion and stubborn refusal to cooperate.

If we are not rejoicing in this, we are in error.

This is an argument then, for relativism to be honest and goes even beyond the notion of sola scriptura as it moreover removes the need for any attempt at obedience or holiness. We’re graced by God even the most disobedient sinners at their most disobedient moments…well then what’s the impetus for me to follow the teachings of any religious tradition?

 

[Michael68]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. This is why the Cross is a stumbling block. It doesn’t work in the logical “do that, get this” way that makes sense to us. If you want something that makes sense, don’t look to Jesus.

“Our desire to please you is itself Your gift,” goes the beautiful phrase found in the mass. If we look at it any other way, if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned. All we can do is cooperate with it the best we can. If you don’t understand that God is gifting every human being with grace at every moment, even the worst and most disobedient sinners at their worst and most disobedient moments, then you don’t know God. Anyone confused by AL is confused about God, the same way the prodigal son’s brother was confused. It’s a terrible way to live, but God still provides grace even to those older brothers despite their confusion and stubborn refusal to cooperate.

If we are not rejoicing in this, we are in error.

What is AL?

 

[1neophyte]

This is an argument then, for relativism to be honest and goes even beyond the notion of sola scriptura as it moreover removes the need for any attempt at obedience or holiness. We’re graced by God even the most disobedient sinners at their most disobedient moments…well then what’s the impetus for me to follow the teachings of any religious tradition?

No. Relativism is the understanding that everyone’s own subjective “truth” is true for them. Relativism is hypocrisy. When a person is upset by the Church’s effort to bring reconciliation to those in invalid marriages, that is relativism. They think that they “deserve” God’s grace, that they “deserve” the Eucharist because their own sins are not as serious as others’, or that their own repentance has earned them a spot where others should be excluded because they have not yet repented “satisfactorily.”

If the impetus to follow a “religious tradition” is to impress God with our obedience and holiness, then we are living an illusion. Obedience and holiness are gifts from God, not achievements. Any saint will tell you that. The Magnificat says “the Mighty One has done great things for me.” It doesn’t say “I have done great things for the Mighty One.” The paradox is that it is Mary’s lowliness that makes her great.

What does that have to do with grace? Everything. Sinners come to repentance because of God’s efforts, not the sinner’s efforts. If the Church says to those living in sin, “come home,” and the sinner responds and comes home, only an absolute devil would say, “Woah, woah, woah, if HE gets in, then what in the world was my impetus for obedience and holiness? Where’s the justice?”

 

[1neophyte]

What is AL?

Amoris Laetitia. Pope Francis’ recent exhortation which has provided the opportunity for many to reveal their true colors.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. This is why the Cross is a stumbling block. It doesn’t work in the logical “do that, get this” way that makes sense to us. If you want something that makes sense, don’t look to Jesus.

“Our desire to please you is itself Your gift,” goes the beautiful phrase found in the mass. If we look at it any other way, if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned. All we can do is cooperate with it the best we can. If you don’t understand that God is gifting every human being with grace at every moment, even the worst and most disobedient sinners at their worst and most disobedient moments, then you don’t know God. Anyone confused by AL is confused about God, the same way the prodigal son’s brother was confused. It’s a terrible way to live, but God still provides grace even to those older brothers despite their confusion and stubborn refusal to cooperate.

If we are not rejoicing in this, we are in error.

I think your comment misunderstands the point Bonhoeffer was making, particularly in the last bolded paragraph in the OP. Grace is certainly free, but neither is it something to be sampled at our convenience - like those food samples at Costco - without an accompanying metanoia.

 

[dmar198]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. …if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned.

Don’t forget the other aspect of Catholic teaching, which says that “earning” is involved:

“granted that He has made salvation possible for us, it is necessary that we earn the right to benefit by it. Without Christ, no good works could have enabled us to save our souls. With Christ, our good works can do so; and He demands them of us; forbids sin; and will exact from all of us an account of the sins we have committed.” source

It is not always wrong to say we earn heaven by our good works.

 

[RCinMT]

No. Relativism is the understanding that everyone’s own subjective “truth” is true for them. Relativism is hypocrisy. When a person is upset by the Church’s effort to bring reconciliation to those in invalid marriages, that is relativism. They think that they “deserve” God’s grace, that they “deserve” the Eucharist because their own sins are not as serious as others’, or that their own repentance has earned them a spot where others should be excluded because they have not yet repented “satisfactorily.”

Hmm…see, I think you’re totally wrong in your assessment. People don’t think they deserve anything, per se. However, reconciliation is kind of a key word in this instance: when people are committing sin and indicate their intent to continue to live in sin, that’s not seeking to be reconciled. Would you call my wife a relativist were she not to let me into our house if she found out that I was carrying on an affair and would not cease to do so?

If the impetus to follow a “religious tradition” is to impress God with our obedience and holiness, then we are living an illusion. Obedience and holiness are gifts from God, not achievements. Any saint will tell you that.

So then one doesn’t need to bother trying, you’ve either been given the gift or you haven’t. So what’s the point of it all? And why do I see books marketed that state as their goal/subject the path to a holier life through according to de Sales or Aquinas or Augustine?

The Magnificat says “the Mighty One has done great things for me.” It doesn’t say “I have done great things for the Mighty One.” The paradox is that it is Mary’s lowliness that makes her great.

And Mary’s consent and obedience. Why did the angel rejoice when Mary accepted her calling if it was preordained?

What does that have to do with grace? Everything. Sinners come to repentance because of God’s efforts, not the sinner’s efforts.

Fascinating, fascinating insight. So when I go to confession, it has nothing to do with me making a decision to do so?

If the Church says to those living in sin, “come home,” and the sinner responds and comes home, only an absolute devil would say, “Woah, woah, woah, if HE gets in, then what in the world was my impetus for obedience and holiness? Where’s the justice?”

But then how can the sinner respond? It’s not up to him or her whether he/she responds? And further, we’re all sinners and we all recognize that. The difference is that I view the need for confession and attempts to stop sinning to be important.

Christ told the people who would stone the adulteress to let he without sin cast the first stone. He also told the adulteress to go forth and sin no more. Sin no more. Church teaching has been that valid marriage only ends with annulment or death.

That said, it calls into question everything the Church has ever taught. I don’t even see that AL is an attempt to reinterpret scripture and put the Church on a path to Protestantism but it goes beyond that pale: it says that the individual conscience is all that matters. Unless AL supporters wish to be hypocritical than there’s no limit to where this ends:

-A wife is disabled and can no longer engage in intimate relations. If the husband doesn’t engage in such relations he will leave the marriage. I guess he should do so in good conscience, otherwise the marriage would collapse
-A human trafficker’s wife and children would walk away if the money dried up and he has no other marketable skill so he resolves to continue trafficking to keep the money flowing. He’s in good conscience

The list could go on.

 

[1neophyte]

I think your comment misunderstands the point Bonhoeffer was making, particularly in the last bolded paragraph in the OP. Grace is certainly free, but neither is it something to be sampled at our convenience - like those food samples at Costco - without an accompanying metanoia.

I fully agree that it should not be sampled at our convenience. It should be fully embraced and devoured. But the fact is that we do sample it at our convenience. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deceiving themselves. Metanoia is not a magic trick or instantaneous once and for all change. It is a slow process, year after year, setback after setback. If I am wrong, I’d be happy to be corrected. I would love to hear the testimony of someone who no longer struggles with any sin. Absent that, if we put ourselves in God’s place and try to determine whether or not someone has had a sufficient metanoia, we make ourselves devils.

 

[1neophyte]

Hmm…see, I think you’re totally wrong in your assessment. People don’t think they deserve anything, per se. However, reconciliation is kind of a key word in this instance: when people are committing sin and indicate their intent to continue to live in sin, that’s not seeking to be reconciled. Would you call my wife a relativist were she not to let me into our house if she found out that I was carrying on an affair and would not cease to do so?

No, but if a stranger came and locked you out of your house, I would. That is what is actually happening when AL objectors decide that their assessments are more accurate and trustworthy than the Magisterium’s.

So then one doesn’t need to bother trying, you’ve either been given the gift or you haven’t. So what’s the point of it all? And why do I see books marketed that state as their goal/subject the path to a holier life through according to de Sales or Aquinas or Augustine?

**Yes, we need to bother trying. But trying one’s best may look drastically different from one person and situation to the next. That is why we have to trust that the Holy Spirit works through the Church the way that He sees fit, rather than making our own judgments about abstract situations. **

And Mary’s consent and obedience. Why did the angel rejoice when Mary accepted her calling if it was preordained?

**I don’t remember claiming that it was preordained. I only claimed that her consent and obedience was only possible because of unearned grace. In that particular case, the grace of her Immaculate Conception and the invitation itself. **

Fascinating, fascinating insight. So when I go to confession, it has nothing to do with me making a decision to do so?

**I don’t remember saying it has nothing to do with your decision to go. It’d be swell if you responded to what I actually said, rather than whatever it is that it’s going on in your head. Yes, you have to make the decision to go. But if the Holy Spirit didn’t move within you, you would never make the decision. **

But then how can the sinner respond? It’s not up to him or her whether he/she responds? And further, we’re all sinners and we all recognize that. The difference is that I view the need for confession and attempts to stop sinning to be important.

Christ told the people who would stone the adulteress to let he without sin cast the first stone. He also told the adulteress to go forth and sin no more. Sin no more. Church teaching has been that valid marriage only ends with annulment or death.

**It would be great if everyone abided by that teaching. Truly, truly great. But we simply don’t. We make complete messes of our lives. If you have never made a mess of yours, I congratulate you. God loves you. But He also loves those in terrible messes. And He’s given us a Church to shepherd us through those messes. The question is, do you trust the Church to do that? Or do you only trust yourself and your own understanding to determine whether the right thing is being done? **

That said, it calls into question everything the Church has ever taught. I don’t even see that AL is an attempt to reinterpret scripture and put the Church on a path to Protestantism but it goes beyond that pale: it says that the individual conscience is all that matters. Unless AL supporters wish to be hypocritical than there’s no limit to where this ends:

-A wife is disabled and can no longer engage in intimate relations. If the husband doesn’t engage in such relations he will leave the marriage. I guess he should do so in good conscience, otherwise the marriage would collapse
-A human trafficker’s wife and children would walk away if the money dried up and he has no other marketable skill so he resolves to continue trafficking to keep the money flowing. He’s in good conscience

**It’s bad enough that you put words in my mouth. Don’t put words in the Church’s. Nowhere has anyone in the Church said that individual conscience is ALL that matters. Grow up. **

 

[Michael68]

Trying to keep up here. Could someone please explain what AL is?

 

[1neophyte]

Trying to keep up here. Could someone please explain what AL is?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoris_laetitia

 

[Expatreprocedit]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. This is why the Cross is a stumbling block. It doesn’t work in the logical “do that, get this” way that makes sense to us. If you want something that makes sense, don’t look to Jesus.

“Our desire to please you is itself Your gift,” goes the beautiful phrase found in the mass. If we look at it any other way, if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned. All we can do is cooperate with it the best we can. If you don’t understand that God is gifting every human being with grace at every moment, even the worst and most disobedient sinners at their worst and most disobedient moments, then you don’t know God. Anyone confused by AL is confused about God, the same way the prodigal son’s brother was confused. It’s a terrible way to live, but God still provides grace even to those older brothers despite their confusion and stubborn refusal to cooperate.

If we are not rejoicing in this, we are in error.

In the Orthodox Church, following St. Maximus the Great and other Fathers, we teach synergy. Nothing is possible without God’s grace, but we must cooperate with His grace by our efforts. This will almost always involve hardship and pain and sacrifice.

 

[RCinMT]

No, but if a stranger came and locked you out of your house, I would. That is what is actually happening when AL objectors decide that their assessments are more accurate and trustworthy than the Magisterium’s.

IT was never my authority that denied people communion, nor is it mine that would continue to do so. It was the Church’s claimed authority and claim to the fullness of truth. When the Church starts changing teaching–and you can chime in with the argument that it isn’t changing teaching but one could also say that it’s not a change in law to order authorities not enforce a law to which I would ask: what’s the difference?–then truth claims crumble.

**Yes, we need to bother trying. But trying one’s best may look drastically different from one person and situation to the next. That is why we have to trust that the Holy Spirit works through the Church the way that He sees fit, rather than making our own judgments about abstract situations. **

How does that work with moral laws? I tried not commit murder but couldn’t help it? I tried to not use the Lord’s name in vain but couldn’t help it? I tried to be faithful to my husband but couldn’t help it?

To my knowledge part of free will is owning the consequence of one’s actions.

**I don’t remember claiming that it was preordained. I only claimed that her consent and obedience was only possible because of unearned grace. In that particular case, the grace of her Immaculate Conception and the invitation itself. **

So when a person sin it’s because God didn’t grace them with the ability to resist the given sin? That sounds like being totally absolved of one’s actions.

**I don’t remember saying it has nothing to do with your decision to go. It’d be swell if you responded to what I actually said, rather than whatever it is that it’s going on in your head. Yes, you have to make the decision to go. But if the Holy Spirit didn’t move within you, you would never make the decision. **

But then it’s not really my decision.

**It would be great if everyone abided by that teaching. Truly, truly great. But we simply don’t. We make complete messes of our lives. If you have never made a mess of yours, I congratulate you. God loves you. But He also loves those in terrible messes. And He’s given us a Church to shepherd us through those messes. The question is, do you trust the Church to do that? Or do you only trust yourself and your own understanding to determine whether the right thing is being done? **

I trust 2000 years of the Church to do that, not what’s been decided in the last 15 months. Further, it’s kind of difficult insinuation to get behind because the whole premise here is that if the D&M individual is in good conscience than communion can be given. Is that not the very definition of applying one’s own understanding to determine whether the right thing is being done?

**It’s bad enough that you put words in my mouth. Don’t put words in the Church’s. Nowhere has anyone in the Church said that individual conscience is ALL that matters. Grow up. **

Follow the logic. Play it out to its natural conclusion and then answer my question with something more charitable than grow up.

 

[esieffe]

Grace isn’t cheap, it’s free. It works without asking anything of us. Period. This is why the Cross is a stumbling block. It doesn’t work in the logical “do that, get this” way that makes sense to us. If you want something that makes sense, don’t look to Jesus.

“Our desire to please you is itself Your gift,” goes the beautiful phrase found in the mass. If we look at it any other way, if there is even a hint of quid pro quo in the way we see our relationship with God, we are in error. Yes, grace can be rejected or wasted, but it can never, ever be earned. All we can do is cooperate with it the best we can. If you don’t understand that God is gifting every human being with grace at every moment, even the worst and most disobedient sinners at their worst and most disobedient moments, then you don’t know God. Anyone confused by AL is confused about God, the same way the prodigal son’s brother was confused. It’s a terrible way to live, but God still provides grace even to those older brothers despite their confusion and stubborn refusal to cooperate.

If we are not rejoicing in this, we are in error.

I was raised in the Protestant church. I knew at an early age that this type of thinking was flawed in my heart. I apologize, I mean no offense, but this is a discussion forum. I knew that this type of thinking presented zero accountability on anyone’s part. According to this type of Protestant thinking, all the work had been done, and we were free to do whatever.

The revolving door caveat that goes with this doctrine, I guess you would call it, is that if you are a heavy sinner that you never got the message in the first place. After that, things get really vague, because that would fly in the face of OSAS. My observation was that people would bury their heads in the sand at this point.

Because I rejected this cheap / free grace theology, I wandered around for decades looking for the “truth” elsewhere. New age, Buddhism, etc. I held this theology up as an example what was not right, so anything with no accountability was false. To sin willynilly
and speak a few canned prayers on Sunday, only to go out and do it all again made no sense to me whatsoever.

What happened next is the subject of long novels found all over the place. Suffice to say my boat had no harbor and sin upon mortal sin, weighed the boat further and further down into the waves.

When the pain became too much to tolerate I knew somehow the ONLY hope for me was to confess my sins, not to a councilor, or to strangers, but to God, through his appointed vessels. I began the process of becoming Catholic. I had to drag and pull myself the whole way, but only with the hard earned graces of God, was I able to do it and become Catholic. It was spiritual warfare, right from the first day, so heavy I was in sin, but I knew what the price of failure was somehow.

Since that time my life has been transformed. God has showered me with graces that I now am able to accept. Each of us are a cup, the smaller the cup, the fewer graces we are able to hold. Those sins have all been forgiven but not forgotten, except by our enemy.
I have to work every day to ensure my cup remains wide, so I am able to hold any graces the Lord bestows on me. I would like to earn back that original crown that God made for me when I was Baptized, but even if I earn the very lowest spot in Heaven that would be enough.

To conclude, OSAS is the interpretation of a misguided person who with help from the enemy, designed one of the biggest schisms to every hit the church. I urge you to read, pray, and contemplate this line of thinking deeply, asking the Holy Spirit to give you the truth, whatever that might be.

Most Respectfully,
esieffe

 

[John_Martin]

Gratuitous Grace gets you in the door to talk. It is what made Zaccheus climb the tree, it is what made Nicodemus come to Jesus by night, it is what made Andrew, Simon, James, John, wonder where Jesus was staying.
Then Jesus, then the Church, can speak, “Come down; I am coming to your house…” What happened in the house? Zacchaeus came out giving back liberally from ill-gotten gain.
What was said in the dark to Nicodemus? “You must be born again” - later Nicodemus seeks to defend Jesus to the council.
“Come and see where I am staying” What happened when they came and spent time with Jesus - we now see disciples and apostles in those four.

The Church can appear harsh, or we can call out, “Come and see; come and talk”.
Jesus did not change when Zacchaeus or Nicodemus or the Four came to him; but they did.
Gratuitous Grace made an inroad to prepare for Sanctifying Grace at the giving of the Holy Spirit. Sanctifying Grace cannot be had if the Church does not individually give it. And the Church cannot give it to one who does not “come and see”.

 

[SteveLy]

Gratuitous Grace gets you in the door to talk. It is what made Zaccheus climb the tree, it is what made Nicodemus come to Jesus by night, it is what made Andrew, Simon, James, John, wonder where Jesus was staying.
Then Jesus, then the Church, can speak, “Come down; I am coming to your house…” What happened in the house? Zacchaeus came out giving back liberally from ill-gotten gain.
What was said in the dark to Nicodemus? “You must be born again” - later Nicodemus seeks to defend Jesus to the council.
“Come and see where I am staying” What happened when they came and spent time with Jesus - we now see disciples and apostles in those four.

The Church can appear harsh, or we can call out, “Come and see; come and talk”.
Jesus did not change when Zacchaeus or Nicodemus or the Four came to him; but they did.
Gratuitous Grace made an inroad to prepare for Sanctifying Grace at the giving of the Holy Spirit. Sanctifying Grace cannot be had if the Church does not individually give it. And the Church cannot give it to one who does not “come and see”.

Good points. Thanks for commenting!

 

[James248]

Gratuitous Grace gets you in the door to talk. It is what made Zaccheus climb the tree, it is what made Nicodemus come to Jesus by night, it is what made Andrew, Simon, James, John, wonder where Jesus was staying.
Then Jesus, then the Church, can speak, “Come down; I am coming to your house…” What happened in the house? Zacchaeus came out giving back liberally from ill-gotten gain.
What was said in the dark to Nicodemus? “You must be born again” - later Nicodemus seeks to defend Jesus to the council.
“Come and see where I am staying” What happened when they came and spent time with Jesus - we now see disciples and apostles in those four.

The Church can appear harsh, or we can call out, “Come and see; come and talk”.
Jesus did not change when Zacchaeus or Nicodemus or the Four came to him; but they did.
Gratuitous Grace made an inroad to prepare for Sanctifying Grace at the giving of the Holy Spirit. Sanctifying Grace cannot be had if the Church does not individually give it. And the Church cannot give it to one who does not “come and see”.

Nicodemus came to Jesus to learn about Him, as did Andrew and John. Both James and Peter learned of Jesus because they came to Him with their brothers. Zacchaeus didn’t receive Jesus’ request until he went up the tree.

 

[steido01]

This Lutheran is enjoying watching the Roman Catholics and the “Protestants” try to appropriate Bonhoeffer and shoehorn his theology into their own. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Bonhoeffer looked at Grace as a Lutheran does: as a gift of God that is received through Faith and in the Means that God established - Word and Sacrament. It is freely given, but not cheaply. Christ paid the real price for it.

Neither Bonhoeffer nor Lutheranism is a proponent of OSAS or Decision Theology. To the Lutheran, even Semi-Pelagianism is considered giving too much agency to Man. It’s God, alone, Who does the work.