Calvin and Missions - World Evangelical Alliance

98 Calvin and World Mission
The Gathering of the Church
A third missionary principle in Calvin’s theology is his concept of the
gathering of the church. At the same time in which the church participates
in the extension of the Kingdom, the church is being gathered. Indeed,
Calvin, speaking of the “spiritual and internal condition of the church,”
said, “the actual building of the Church is nothing less than the Kingdom
of God.” 115
Further, wherever the word was sincerely preached and the sacraments
correctly administered, one could rest assured that the church had reality. 116
For it was impossible, in Calvin’s thought, for these two to exist without
producing fruit and experiencing prosperity. 117
The church was gathered only by the effectual word of God, when God
himself teaches his people.
There is no other way of raising up the church of God than by the light of
the word, in which God himself, by his own voice, points out the way of salvation.
Until the truth shines, men cannot be united together, so as to form a
true church. 118
After the completion of Christ’s public ministry, the gospel was to be offered
to all people. Calvin remarked, “But as the wall is broken down, the
Gospel promulgated, we have been gathered together into the body of the
church.” 119
The agents of this promulgation were the Apostles. “The Apostles …
were like the first architects of the Church, to lay its foundations throughout
the world.” 120 The Holy Ghost appeared in the manner he did on the
day of Pentecost “to shew that hee woulde be in the mouthes of the Apostles,
and woulde give them whatsoever was requisite for the executing of
their office and commission.” 121
Calvin understood that the gospel had been preached to the whole world
during the ministry of the Apostles. He spoke of Christ penetrating “with
amazing speed, from the east to the west, like the lightening’s flash, in
115
Commentary on Micha 4:1-2; Works, v. 28, p. 257.
116
The Institutes, IV, i, 9.
117
Ibid., IV, i, 10.
118
Commentary on Micah 4:1-2, Works, v. 28, p. 257.
119
Commentary on Psalm 110. Works, v. 11, p. 301.
120 The Institutes, IV, iii, 4.
121 Divers Sermons, p. 172.