In Case You Missed It: 2025 Winter Conference
Posted On January 22, 2025
On Friday, January 17, we hosted our 2025 Winter Conference, The 500th Anniversary of The Bondage of the Will, on the RBC campus in Central Florida.
Together we reflected on Martin Luther’s life and the impact of his classic treatise The Bondage of the Will on the history of Christian thought. We also considered how Christians are called to keep the core truths of the gospel at the forefront of our worship and our witness to the world around us.
Our president, Dr. Stephen Nichols, set the stage for the conference by looking at several pivotal events that shaped the life and theology of Martin Luther. Dr. Nichols also explained that 1525—the year that The Bondage of the Will was published—was a crucial year in Luther’s life.
“Martin Luther ultimately wrote The Bondage of the Will because the gospel itself was at stake.” —Dr. Stephen Nichols
Next, our vice president of academics and professor of theology, Dr. John Tweeddale, explained how Luther’s treatise captured the heart of his teaching on the Bible and offered a full-orbed look at the doctrine of salvation.
“If you have a faulty view of Scripture, Martin Luther said, then you will have a faulty view of yourself and ultimately a faulty view of God.” —Dr. John Tweeddale
Members of the RBC faculty then led three respective breakout sessions that reflected on various aspects of Martin Luther’s life and legacy.
Our assistant professor of theology, Dr. Levi Bernston, traced the historical development of free choice among Christian theologians leading up to Luther—showing how prior debates provided an important backdrop for Luther’s controversy with Desiderius Erasmus.
Our associate professor of New Testament, Dr. Matthew Dudreck, focused on Luther’s famous commentary on Galatians and considered how he distinguished between the condemning function of the law and the liberating message of the gospel.
Dr. Keith Mathison, our professor of systematic theology, examined Luther’s doctrine of the Lord’s Supper, showing how the doctrine of the Supper was the first major theological fault line among the Protestant Reformers.
In the next main session, Drs. Nichols and Tweeddale took part in a panel discussion that considered significant events in Martin Luther’s life after 1525 as well as some distinctive features of Luther’s approach to pastoral ministry.
“Luther’s ministry is summed up in this basic assertion: we preach Christ from the Bible for the people.” —Dr. John Tweeddale
Next, Dr. Augustus Nicodemus Lopes, founder of Living the Scriptures, explored some of the lessons that can be gleaned from the life and teaching of Martin Luther. Dr. Lopes reminded us of the necessity of the faithful proclamation of the gospel and commitment to bedrock Christian convictions.
“Luther’s legacy in biblical interpretation is so important, and we should remember it. It helps address issues facing the church in the modern world.” —Dr. Augustus Nicodemus Lopes
In our closing session, Drs. Lopes, Nichols, and Tweeddale engaged in a Q&A session, answering questions from conference attendees about Luther’s life and legacy.
Many of the sessions from our Winter Conference were livestreamed, and you can watch the recording of each stream on our YouTube channel. Subscribe today to find messages from other RBC events. For more information about RBC, visit ReformationBibleCollege.org.