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.