The Necessary Keys

The church of Jesus Christ, as the body of Christ, is holy. So we confess together in the "Apostles Creed." When we say the church is holy, we mean that both as to her calling and in respect to her virtue she is holy. The church is consecrated unto God. The church is such in principle, in and of grace alone. Her holiness is the gift of grace. Thus neither with respect to her spiritual virtue of holiness, nor with respect to her calling, may she exalt herself. The church is holy only in Christ...