Indeed, as the greatest of all the Reformers himself stated: “The nature of the apostolic function is clear from the command; ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature’ (Mark xvi. 15). No fixed limits are given them [apostolic Christians-N.L.], but the WHOLE WORLD is assigned TO BE REDUCED TO OBEY CHRIST, so that by spreading the Gospel as WIDELY as they could, they might EVERY-WHERE erect His Kingdom” (John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, chapter 3, paragraph 4).
Moreover, one not only needs to be driven forward by a cultural motive to subdue all things and a missionary motive to save all people, but also by an eschatological motive to sanctify the whole of life while optimistically awaiting the coming of God’s Kingdom here on earth. “Hallowed be Thy Name! Thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Luke 11:2). Until “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign fore ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).
