5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
"We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church." (Nicene Creed)
Thoughts: The church is distinguished by its holiness. Holiness means differentiated, marked off, "other" than the world. It is related to the idea of goodness (Old English "Godness"). When the Church has lost its idea of holiness, it has lost not only its balance (love and holiness balance each other), but it loses its ability to define itself-and eventually its reason for existence.
Saying the church is holy does not mean it is perfect, nor does it mean that someone has to be holy before they join the church or perfect once they join. Even Paul admitted that the things he knew he shouldn't do he did and things he knew he should do he didn't do. In other words, even Paul admitted he was a sinner after he believed (Romans 7:15). Nor does it mean that the ministers of the church are perfect or holy. In the fifth century some (Donatists) said that baptisms and communion were not valid if a minister/priest had at one time denied the faith. But after study and debate the church universally decided that the grace of God in the sacraments and church overules the sin of the minister. While the goal of the church is holiness, it is holy because it is on a holy path but it is primarily holy because the Church has the Holy Spirit in it. The Holy God calls the church to be like Him- different from the world (see passages above, John 2:16,17 et al).
Prayer: Lord, let the church be holy. Holy Spirit enable me, call me, put me on the holy path.
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