A cliché is a word, expression, or even an idea, which through repeated use has become one of two things: it has either become trite, losing its freshness or force of meaning; or it has become popularly accepted as a statement of some truth, when in reality it may not be an accurate statement or presentation of the truth at all.
Now in many cases a cliché is harmless, especially when it is merely trite. However when a cliché is of the second kind, it can be harmful. When it actually is the misstatement of some truth, the erroneous cliché by its inaccuracy deceives and misleads people. In addition, by its popular use the cliché actually strengthens its capacity to masquerade as the truth, even to the point of often being able to successfully oppose the truth in people’s minds when they are confronted with it.
Now at no time is an erroneous cliché more harmful than when it affects God’s word, and in particular when it is a Gospel cliché.
Unfortunately there are a number of erroneous Gospel clichés. And as such they actually pervert “the gospel of Christ” by misstating God’s requirement for being justified in His sight. For a fuller examination of this matter, see the author’s booklet, The Gospel of God’s Grace: Make It Clear! Make It Plain!, from which these articles are taken.