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The fellowship of the saints 1.
ALL saints are united to Jesus Christ their head by His Spirit and
by faith. But this does not mean that they become one person with Him. Yet
they have fellowship in His graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and
glory. Also, as they are united to one another in love, they enjoy
fellowship in the gifts and graces one of another, and are under
obligation to render such services, public and private, as promote their
mutual well-being, in both spiritual and temporal matters. 2.
By their profession of faith, saints are committed to the
maintenance of a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God and
in the performance of such other special services as promote their mutual
well-being. They are also bound to relieve one another in their temporal
concerns according to their various needs and abilities. According to the
rule of the gospel, this type of fellowship, while it particularly applies
to the family and church relationships of saints, is to be extended, as
God gives opportunity, to the whole household of faith, that is to say, to
all who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. At the same
time, however, it must be understood that such a sharing one with another
as saints, does not deprive any man of the title and proprietorship which
he has in his own goods and possessions, nor does it infringe such title. [Previous Chapter] [Next Chapter]
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