1. All saints that are united to Jesus
Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one
person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and
glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts
and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an
orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
( 1
John 1:3; John
1:16; Philippians
3:10; Romans
6:5, 6; Ephesians
4:15, 16; 1
Corinthians 12:7; 1
Corinthians 3:21-23; 1
Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans
1:12; 1
John 3:17, 18; Galatians
6:10 )
2. Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the
worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual
edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several
abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though
especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in
families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the
household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord
Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or
infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
( Hebrews
10:24, 25; Hebrews
3:12, 13; Acts
11:29, 30; Ephesians
6:4; 1
Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts
5:4; Ephesians
4:28 )
Copyright ©1999-2007, The Reformed Reader, All Rights Reserved