Rom 12:5, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
1 Cor. 12:25, "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another."
Ver. 26, "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."
Ver. 27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
Eph 4:25, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
The congregation is a divinely instituted and well-defined body of people with reciprocal privileges and duties one towards another. There must be a means of identifying this body and the Scripture teaches this is accomplished in terms of membership. Without membership it would be impossible to function in an ordinary and orderly manner.
1 Cor. 12:25, "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another."
Ver. 26, "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."
Ver. 27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
Eph 4:25, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
The congregation is a divinely instituted and well-defined body of people with reciprocal privileges and duties one towards another. There must be a means of identifying this body and the Scripture teaches this is accomplished in terms of membership. Without membership it would be impossible to function in an ordinary and orderly manner.