Utter Despair
Via On Being a Theologian of the Cross, pp. 65-67
Thesis 18. It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ.
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, "Jesus Preaching" (1652)
When, as theologians of glory, we think our own works are the only way out, we get tapped by our own sins. Then we are without hope and on the way to ultimate despair, the despair, say, of a Judas. “If only I had not done it!” “There is no hope for me.” Despair becomes ultimate. The cause of such ultimate despair is that we are still trapped in a false regard for our works–so much so, perhaps, that in a kind of perverse prided we think that not even the grace of God can blot out our failures! The implication is that by avoiding sin we could better our status in God’s sight. Regard for our own ability is still the presumption by which we operate. But then we have not utterly despaired of our own ability. We have not surrendered the belief that we manufacture our own destiny by “doing what it in us.”
The “utter despair of one’s own ability” of thesis 18 is not the “ultimate despair” of one still caught in the trap of presumption, but rather a despair that is “preparation to receive the grace of Christ.” Indeed, we can say, utter despair of our own ability is not something we achieve on our own. It is not a new “doing what is in one.” It is itself possible only because the grace of Christ has brought new hope. So it is that preaching against our own ability in these matters does not give cause for despair because it seeks to prevent the ultimate despair that will inevitably result if we rely on those abilities. At the same time it is true that such preaching brings about the final surrender of faith in self, the “utter despair of our own ability” that is inspired by and prepares to receive the grace of Christ. Ultimate despair is due to the temptation to believe that there is no hope beyond our own abilities. Despair itself then becomes ultimate and so leads to death. Utter despair of our own ability, however, looks to the grace of Christ and so leads to life. This subtle nuance points to a fundamental theological divide.
