296. The first and primary principle of the church is, to know and acknowledge its God; for without that knowledge and acknowledgment there is no conjunction; thus, in the church, without the acknowledgment of the Lord. This the Lord teaches in John:
He who believeth in the Son hath eternal life, but he who believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the anger of God abideth with him (3:36). And in another place:
Except ye believe that I am, ye shall die in your sins (8:24).