2. The Third Article calls the Christian Church _the communion of saints._ It is a communion, a congregation, of _saints,_ that is, of _holy people._ They are not holy in themselves, but the Holy Ghost has sanctified them, or made them holy, through faith in Christ. In Christ they have _forgiveness of all their sins_ and are holy in the eyes of God. _Only true believers in Christ therefore belong to the Christian Church; only they, but all of them._ Instead of the communion of saints we might also say _the communion of true believers._--The Church is the communion of saints. All believers in Christ are a _communion,_ a _congregation;_ they form, as it were, one _body._ They do not all live together at one place, in one city, or in the same country,--we find them scattered over all the earth,--but they are _closely bound together by one and the same faith in Christ._ They belong to one family, of which Christ is the Head and Master, and all are members. _The Church is the communion of saints; for believers only, but all believers, are members of it._ 3. We _believe_ that the holy Christian Church is here on earth, but we do not _see_ it; it is invisible. Only true believers belong to the Church, and no man can look into another's heart and see his _faith._ Only One really knows who the members of the Church are. _"The Lord knoweth them that are His."_ 2 Tim. 2,19. We cannot see the Church, but _we believe that it is here on earth;_ for holy Scripture assures us that the Holy Ghost by the Gospel at all times calls men to Christ and keeps them in the true faith to the end of the world. Our Lord says: _"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."_ Matt. 16,18.--The Church is _holy_ because all its members are _holy by faith in Christ_ and in the strength of the Holy Ghost _lead a godly life_ and serve their Lord in His kingdom in righteousness.--It is called the _Christian_ Church because it is built on _Christ. "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."_ 1 Cor. 3,11. And He is not only its Foundation, but also _the Head and King of the Church._ 4. We do not see the Church, _but we know where it is, where we can find it._ The Holy Ghost calls and keeps the Church only _by the Gospel._ God has promised us that, where His Gospel is preached, it shall not remain _without fruit;_ some of those who hear it will come to Christ and believe in Him. _Wherever the Word of God is preached, and only where it is in use, the holy Christian Church is to be found._