Through their union with Christ, their head, the saints are united to one another, have special communion in each other’s spiritual gifts and graces,1 and are bound to perform such duties towards each other as conduce to their mutual profit and edification.2 It is the duty of those who profess godliness to maintain fellowship and communion with each other in the public worship of God, to love each other as brethren, and to do good especially unto them who are of the household of faith, by relieving, according to their ability, and several stations in life, each other’s necessities.3
But this spiritual or religious union and fellowship in church membership does not annul any tie of natural relationship, or take away or lessen in the slightest degree, the title of any member of the Church to his possessions and goods, personal or civil.4
1 1 John 1:3; 3:14; Eph. 2:6 ; 3:17-19; 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 12 : 26-27; Acts 4:32. 2 Rom. 1:11-14; 15:5-7; 1 Thess. 5:11-14; Eph. 4:15-16; 1 Cor. 3:21-22; 14:12-40. 3 Eph. 4:3-7; Heb. 3:13; 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-45; 11:29-30; 1 John 3:16-18; Gal. 6:2,10; Mal. 3:16; Col. 3:16; 1 Peter 4:10-11. 4 Exod. 20:15; Eph. 4:28; 6:1-9; Acts 5:4; 1 Cor. 7:24, 39; 1 Peter 3:7-8; 1 Tim. 5:1- 3; Rom. 12:6-16.
