Theology of the Cross

Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually leads to living in the peace and joy of the beatitudes.

[citation needed] In contrast, in Luther's view, the theologian of glory preaches that (1) humans have the ability to do the good that lies within them (quod in se est), (2) there remains, after the fall, some ability to choose the good, and (3) humans cannot be saved without participating in or cooperating with the righteousness given by God.

[citation needed] As Luther understood it, these two theologies had two radically different starting points: they had different epistemologies, or ways of understanding how people know about God and the world.

For the theologian of glory, reason and personal perceptions should be employed to increase knowledge about God and the world.

This was part of a broader trend in Liberation theology and standpoint theory which also led to people's history.

Luther in 1533 by Lucas Cranach the Elder
...man's will has some liberty to choose civil righteousness, and to work things subject to reason. But it has no power, without the Holy Ghost, to work the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness... – Augsburg Confession , Art. 18: Of Free Will [ 9 ]