October 31 is the time we celebrate the Protestant Reformation. Last year was the 500th anniversary of the nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg by Martin Luther. Less than a year later, at the Heidelberg Disputation (April 26, 1518), Luther would defend his theses, but more, this would lead to him clarifying the pure gospel of Christ's death and resurrection as being the sole satisfaction for our sins.

Luther defended the doctrine of human depravity and the bondage of the will. Martin Bucer, the reformer of Strasbourg, heard Luther here and became an avid follower. For a list of the points of this disputation, see this reference: http://bookofconcord.org/heidelberg.php Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf