It is agreed that the words “cheap grace” are somewhat offensive. It is a great biblical word, it relates to our salvation, and how can anything that is related to our salvation be “cheap?” However, the reader is here reminded the words under which we write are the words used by another.
Grace is not an umbrella and it does not mean that all those under it are saved! Grace is God’s offer of salvation to a people who did not and do not deserve it. The apostle wrote: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:6-9). As a lost person, I was totally without “strength” (means) to save myself. God’s love compelled him, as we are his creation, offspring, to give us a means of salvation. God, as the perfect Father, loved us and provided the opportunity of being saved. As Paul wrote, “Christ died for the ungodly.” We were in fact, “enemies” of God when he gave us the means of being “… reconciled to God by the death of his Son, …” (Rom. 5:10). Grace is not somehow separated from “the word of his grace” (Acts. 20:32), but it IS “the word of his grace!” Grace does not reach beyond “the word of his grace,” but is limited to “the word of his grace!”
Now, let us get to the part you have been waiting for; namely, “cheap grace.” The person who used these words, teaches “once saved always saved.” This means, there is nothing you can do to lose your saved state. Just how far does this teaching reach? By the use of the word “nothing” is meant, absolutely nothing! Well, it appears those to whom this person preached, truly began to believe what he has been preaching. If you can sin, as a way of life, yet, cannot be lost, why not enjoy the pleasures of sin? And they were! Thus, his words, “cheap grace” was used in this context. He was referring to those who have been raised on this teaching and how they had made “grace” cheap! As in a license to sin!
The apostle addressed this subject to the church in Rome. He wrote, “… where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). Fearing the readers might get the wrong idea, as did those who heard the preacher who used the words “cheap grace;” Paul followed up with these words: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Rom. 6:1). Those who are taught, “once saved always saved,” might just answer Paul’s question, “Yes!” This is the very point our preacher was addressing in his use of the words “cheap grace.”
What was Paul’s answer to his own question? He followed with: “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:2-4). The person who has been saved by God’s grace, has been raised from baptism to “walk in newness of life!” They are dead to sin, having repented in regard to their former way of life – one of sinning – and being baptized into death – the separation from the former way of life; thus, raised into a new way of living. This newness of life does not include having sin as a way of life. As Paul also wrote: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). In Christ, there is no “cheap grace;” therefore, there is no “cheap grace” in God’s grace!
Of course, the teaching of “once saved always saved” is false and you can see just how dangerous it can become in daily life! Just follow it to its logical conclusion and you will have “cheap grace;” God forbid! Paul wrote: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). There is the grace of God! It is the favor God has given us to have eternal salvation!
— Frank R. Williams