medieval notion that “God will not deny grace to those who do what is within them.” Standard theology of the time assumed that human beings must make some autonomous movement toward God in order that through God’s grace this intrinsically nonmeritorious movement could be extrinsically regarded by God as meriting salvation. Luther denies that human beings can make this movement. In fact, their true hope lies in despairing that they have the ability to make any such movement. In discerning their true