The Dollar Tree
Leaving the house a few days ago, Ana told a joke that apparently was not very funny. Jewell quipped, “Where’d you get that joke? At the Dollar Tree?” The Dollar Tree is known, appropriately enough, for lots of things for just over 99 cents. Cheap.
Many people, even many who claim to be Christians, have obtained their doctrine, even their grace, from the “Dollar Tree.” That is, cheap grace. When someone says, “The grace of God will cover you in your moral sin. It will also cover me (or so-and-so) in their doctrinal error,” then they are selling grace bought from the “Dollar Tree.”
The grace of God is not cheap. Nor is it free. It cost God His Son and Jesus His blood. But it also costs us complete submission.
Jude had to deal with people who obtained their grace/doctrine from the “Dollar Tree.” “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 4; KJV). “Lasciviousness” refers to freedom without any constraints, usually with sexual overtones.
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You turn the grace of God into “freedom without constraints” when you think you can sin with impunity. Grace on God’s part requires repentance on man’s part (Matthew 4:17). You turn the grace of God into “freedom without constraints” when you think you can teach/practice false doctrine with impunity. We are saved from our sins, not in our sins.
The ESV translates the above verse: “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Perverting the grace of God. Suggesting that it allows sin rather than rebukes sin. In this specific context, it included denying Jesus was Master. No submission. That’s cheap grace.
The truth about grace (not the “dime-store” variety) is found in Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
You don’t get true grace from the Dollar Tree.
–Paul Holland
