The Westminster Confession of Faith
CHAPTER 26
Of Communion of Saints.
I. All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their head by his
Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces,
sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory.a And
being united to one another in love, they have communion in each
other's gifts and graces;b and are obliged to
the performance of such duties, publick and private, as do conduce to
their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.c
a John 1:3; Eph. 3:16-19;
John 1:16; Eph. 2:5,6; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5,6; 2 Tim. 2:12.
b Eph. 4:15,16; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor.
3:21-23; Col. 2:19.
c 1 Thess. 5:11,14; Rom. 1:11,12,14;
1 John 3:16-18; Gal. 6:10.
II. 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;d as also in relieving each other in
outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities.
Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto
all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.e
d Heb. 10:24,25; Acts
2:42,46; Isa. 2:3; 1 Cor. 11:20.
e Acts 2:44,45; 1 John 3:17; 2 Cor.
chap. 8, 9; Acts 11:29,30.
III. This communion which the saints have with
Christ doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of his
Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to
affirm is impious and blasphemous.f Nor doth
their communion one with another, as saints, take away or infringe the
title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.g
f Col. 1:18,19; 1 Cor. 8:6;
Isa. 42:8; 1 Tim. 6:15,16; Ps. 45:7, with Heb. 1:8,9.
g Exod. 20:15; Eph. 4:28; Acts 5:4.
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