AI generated Summary: This sermon emphasizes that approaching God involves acknowledging and embracing one's inherent sinfulness, rather than seeking merit or attempting self-improvement. Drawing heavily from Scripture and the example of Luther, it argues that genuine peace and forgiveness are freely offered as a gift, accessible to all who recognize their need and trust in Christ's completed work on the cross. Rejecting the notion of preliminary goodness or preparatory feelings, the message underscores that God's grace is extended to the unlovable and unrighteous, offering immediate pardon and imputed righteousness through faith, ultimately liberating individuals from the burden of self-reliance and inviting them to experience the transformative power of divine love.