Into all the World: The Missionary Vision of Luther and Calvin

Luther and Calvin were influential reformers of the sixteenth century who significantly impacted the western world through their writings and theological debates. Their evangelical vision shaped the development of Europe and had implications in various areas such as ethics, democracy, education, and the arts. Their legacy is worth exploring for mission work today.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 128 pages
\n Publication date: 05 March 2021
\n Publisher: Christian Focus Publications Ltd
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Luther and Calvin, the great reformers of the sixteenth century, are remembered for their writings and theological debates, but do we think of them as great missionaries? Can we learn from them for mission work today?

The Reformation had a defining and far-reaching impact on the western world and beyond. It shaped the development of Europe over the next 500 years. It not only touched on church life and key doctrinal issues but had implications in terms of ethics, the birth of liberal democracy, education, the arts, science, the economy, and much more.

This all evolved as part of Calvin's and Luther's evangelistic vision. With such a legacy, this vision is worth your attention.

Luther and Calvin were both deeply committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. They believed that the Bible was the ultimate source of truth and that it was their responsibility to share it with others.

Luther's teachings focused on the importance of salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasized the need for personal repentance and faith in the Gospel, and he opposed the sale of indulgences, which he believed were a false way of salvation.

Calvin's teachings were similar to Luther's, but he also emphasized the importance of the church as a community of believers and the role of the pastor in leading and teaching the congregation. He also developed the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, which states that God has chosen certain people for salvation before the beginning of time.

Despite their differences, Luther and Calvin were both influential in shaping the Christian church and in promoting the spread of the Gospel. They both believed that the Gospel was the only way to save people from eternal separation from God and that it was their responsibility to share it with others.

Today, we can still learn from Luther and Calvin for mission work. Their teachings on the importance of personal salvation, the importance of the church as a community of believers, and the need for evangelism and outreach are still relevant and valuable.

One of the key lessons that we can learn from Luther and Calvin is the importance of personal evangelism. They both believed that it was the responsibility of every Christian to share their faith with others and to invite them to become followers of Jesus Christ. This means that we should be actively involved in sharing our faith with our friends, family, and coworkers and in reaching out to those who are not yet followers of Christ.

Another lesson that we can learn from Luther and Calvin is the importance of the church as a community of believers. They both believed that the church is not just a gathering of individuals but is a living body of Christ. This means that we should be actively involved in our local church and in building relationships with other members of the congregation. We should also be committed to serving and supporting the church through our time, talents, and resources.

Finally, we can learn from Luther and Calvin the need for outreach and mission work. They both believed that the Gospel should be shared with everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. This means that we should be willing to go to places where the Gospel is not yet heard and to work with people who are different from us.

In conclusion, Luther and Calvin were both great reformers of the sixteenth century who were deeply committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their teachings on personal salvation, the importance of the church as a community of believers, and the need for evangelism and outreach are still relevant and valuable for mission work today. We can learn from their example and apply their teachings to our own lives and to our work in the church and in the world.

\n Weight: 238g\n
Dimension: 137 x 206 x 13 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781527104228\n \n