Reject Grace?
Spit on Yourself

Isn't it pitiful that man cannot do so much when God Himself makes the offer and says: My friend, two ways lie before you; now take and choose one. Would you rather have My grace and eternal salvation for nothing, bestowed and delivered without any expense or labor to you, or try to earn these with your works and yet not attain them? Aye, God exhorts and invites man to accept grace and threatens eternal wrath and punishment if he does not accept it....

But our life is such a wretched affair that we do not accept the treasure for which we should spend our entire being and life, spare no expense or labor, and run till we sweat blood if the treasure were anywhere to be found. But now that God comes of His own accord, lays the treasure at the door, exhorts us so sincerely and fatherly, commands so earnestly, and threatens so terribly -- we do not want it!

Really, we ought to spit on ourselves and become angry with ourselves for being such wretched folk that we insist on justice instead of the grace which is offered, that is, burden ourselves with wrath and displeasure.

Source: Quoted in Ewald M. Plass, What Luther Says, A Practical In-home Theology for the Active Christian. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. 1959 Edition, 10th Printing (1994), pp. 607-608.