Luther’s discovery was the result of listening carefully to the Bible without permitting preconceived notions to determine its meaning; it was an exegetical discovery, which meant to Luther a new concept of God. This new understanding of God led to a new relationship to God, based no longer on Luther’s virtues and love to God, not in moralism, or rationalism, or mysticism, but exclusively in understanding the cross of Jesus Christ according to the gospel message. From now on Luther gloried in the