On church membership

Here is a good word from the Second London Baptist Confession (1677), explaining one of the Biblical reasons for church membership:

“In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto himself, through the Ministry of his word, by his Spirit [John 10:16; 12:32], those that are given unto him by his Father; that they may walk before him in all the [Matt 28:20] ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his Word. Those thus called he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or [Matt 18:15-20] Churches, for their mutual edification; and the due performance of that publick worship, which he requireth of them in the World.”