nThe church is
a 'holy nation':
"1Pet 2:9-10
(NIV) But you are a chosen people, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God, that you may
declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful
light. 10 Once you were not a people, but
now you are the people of God; once
you had not received mercy, but now you
have received mercy.