Belgic Confession, Article 28: The Obligations of Church Members
This excerpt from Article 28 of the Belgic Confession articulates the Reformed doctrine of church membership and unity, emphasizing that believers have a binding obligation to join and remain in the visible church while submitting to its discipline and instruction. The article addresses the necessity of separating from those outside the church to preserve doctrinal purity and congregational integrity, even in the face of civil opposition, reflecting the confessional Reformed commitment to proper church order and the marks of a true church.
Article 28: The Obligations of Church Members We believe thatsince this holy assembly and congregation is the gathering of those who are saved and there is no salvation apart from it,people ought not to withdraw from it,content to be by themselves, regardless of their status or condition.But all people are obliged to join and unite with it, keeping the unity of the churchby submitting to its instruction and discipline, by bending their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ, and by serving to...