16. Anyone who thinks he would attain righteousness by doing what is in him is adding sin to sin, so that he becomes doubly guilty. Twice Luther publicly declared that the prevailing theology of the day led to damnation. Up to this point Luther had emphasized the role of the law to his listeners. He explained just how powerful this law was by insisting, “It is certain that a man must completely despair of himself in order to become fit to obtain the grace of Christ.” But then he moved to the gospel.