The church is the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23; 4:12; 5:23; Col 1:24). How can a person believe in Christ yet refuse to be a member of the body of Christ? True believers of Jesus Christ are members of the same body, the church (1 Cor 12:12-13, 27-28).

The Lord Jesus imparts His salvation through His church. He sends out workers and gives His church the authority and power to forgive sins (Jn 2:21-23; Mt 16:18-19). Baptism, footwashing, and Holy Communion, all of which have to do with a believer’s salvation, are performed by the church. You cannot be saved apart from the church (Eph 5:23-27; also Acts 20:28).