How does Calvin ground his marks of a true church biblically?
HOW DOES CALVIN MARK GROUND HIS MARKS OF A TRUE CHURCH BIBLICALLY?
Book IV of Calvin’s Institutes is entitled “The External Means or Aids by which God invites us into the society of Christ and holds us therein”. As such it works through “the church, its government, order and power; then the sacraments; and lastly, the civil order”. As John T. McNeil comments in the footnote, “Book IV is outlined in this sentence.” In short, Book IV is about the church.
A quick glance at some volumes on my shelf show that Calvin’s theology of the church does not get the attention one might think it should, in light of Book IV. The sacraments receive much attention both within chapters in books about Calvin’s theology and in separate works devoted to his understanding of them which, obviously, are key marks of a true church. One might say attention from others is given to the marks, rather than the organism or institution itself.
I have not read Calvin’s commentaries on Ephesians or 1 Corinthians where, I imagine, he discusses the church. Designed as a work which would cover the contours of the Christian faith, The Institutes is the first place to start when considering Calvin’s doctrines, with the commentaries devoted to exegesis and discussions on longer theological topics being reserved, mainly, for The Institutes. As such, Calvin’s method here is not one of proof-texting, per se, but one where themes are woven together and his understanding of covenant theology mean Old and New Testaments blend together. As such, in The Institutes, and in Calvin’s thought, it is the impression of the whole which grounds the marks biblically rather than a selection of verses to which to hang things on.
In the opening section of Book IV Calvin discusses the divine gifts shared in the church; the distinction between the visible and invisible church; the catholic/universal church which is one because Christ cannot be torn asunder and how the unity of the church requires the eyes of faith.
First, let’s get a sense of Calvin’s robust understanding of the church with some quotes from The Institutes. “…for to those whom he is Father the church may also be Mother.” “So powerful is participation in the church that it keeps us in the society of God.” “…away from her bosom one cannot hope for any forgiveness or any salvation” and “…separation from the church is the denial of God and Christ” These are strong statements which would find home in Cyprian, Augustine and Herman Bavinck to name a few. The church is seen as the community of faith one is born into and thus the community one grows up in being instructed and increasing in maturity. Because the church is the body of Christ one cannot have Christ apart from His church. Union with Christ is a very strong theme in Calvin, unpacked largely in Book III “The Way We Receive the Grace of Christ” with Book IV being the context in which that take place, the church. When one reads Ephesians for instance, Calvin’s strong statements are not a stretch at all but serve as a challenge to our individualistic culture.
For Calvin, the church is the place where God himself is in our midst, for it is His temple. It is the place of people who hold treasures in earthen vessels. The church is universal, but found in separate places throughout the world. There are individual churches which are part of the church and he does allow for individual people who may be part of the invisible church, even though they are not part of the visible church, although they should be.
Calvin’s famous quote on the marks of the church ‘Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a church of God exists.’ The preaching and teaching of the Word is the means by which “God alone sanctifies temples to himself for lawful use” and “By baptism we are initiated into faith in him; by partaking in the Lord’s Supper we attest our unity in true doctrine and love; in the Word of the Lord we have agreement, and for the preaching of the Word the ministry instituted by Christ is preserved.” As such baptism initiates us into the life of the church, and into Christ; and communion the means of ongoing participation and union in Him. Although other Reformers made discipline a mark, Calvin did not, although he thought church disciple to be very important. Preaching and sacraments go together as “whenever God gave a sign to the holy patriarchs it was inseparably linked to doctrine…”
How does one know a true church from a false one? The answer is found in the marks. “If it has the ministry of the Word and honours it, if it has the administration of the sacrament, it deserves without doubt to be held and considered a church. For it is certain that such things are not without fruit.” Later on, “For in order that the title ‘church’ may not deceive us, every congregation that claims the name “church” must be tested by this standard as by a touchstone. If in Word and sacraments it has the order approved by the Lord, it will not deceive; let us then confidently pay to it the honour due to churches. But again, if devoid of Word and sacraments, it advertises the name of church, we must just as suspiciously beware such deceits, as we must avoid rashness and pride on the other side.” No word and sacraments, no church.
For Calvin, the church is the place where the keys of pardon and forgiveness to believers are exercised. For people to leave the church is an act without excuse and sin in members should not stop people professing faith in those ceremonies ordained by God. One could then label the charge back at Calvin and accuse him of being schismatic but his response would be that a church where falsehood, true doctrine overturned and the sacraments destroyed is no church at all. Nevertheless, Calvin maintained there were still true churches amongst the Roman Catholic church of the day, although “lacking the lawful form” places of a remnant preserved by God and where the marks remained. Calvin denies Rome’s claim to be THE church and saw the condition for unity amongst the one holy, catholic and apostolic church being Christ’s headship.
In summary, therefore, the marks of a true church belong to a rich understanding of the church as Christ’s body and how to be a part of the body is to be united with the head, Christ. As such, the church and Christ, whilst to be distinguished are never to be separated.