God takes our vertical love for Him and reflects it horizontally to the people around us. God is explicit in this redirection. A love for God that does not result in a genuine love for people is impossible. Enveloped by the love of God, a Christian longs to share in the body of Christ in the world. The individual who confesses the Lordship of Christ is a member of God's universal Church.
Local congregations are the physical manifestation of the universal body.
It is impossible to be an isolated Christian. The Christian faith demands fellowship. Others need Jesus the same way we do. The full significance of Jesus and his love can be appreciated only by those inside the fellowship of the church. Human beings have an inherent need that can be satisfied only in that fellowship.