The concept of the church as a "holy place" is deeply rooted in biblical theology and ecclesiology. The term "church" (Greek: ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia) in the New Testament primarily refers to the assembly of believers rather than a physical building. However, the notion of holiness associated with the church is both spiritual and communal, reflecting the sanctity of God's presence among His people.

Biblical Foundation

The holiness of the church is derived from its relationship with God, who is inherently holy. In the Old Testament, the temple was considered the holy place where God's presence dwelt among His people (1 Kings 8:10-11). With the advent of the New Covenant, the church becomes the new temple, a spiritual house built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22). The Apostle Paul emphasizes this transformation, stating, "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).

The Church as a Holy Community

The holiness of the church is not confined to a physical location but is embodied in the community of believers. The Apostle Peter describes the church as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession" (1 Peter 2:9). This identity calls believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness, as they are set apart for His purposes.

The church's holiness is also evident in its mission and function. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) underscores the church's role in making disciples and teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded. This mission is carried out in the power of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies and empowers the church to fulfill its calling.

Worship and Sacraments

Worship within the church is a central expression of its holiness. The gathering of believers for worship is a sacred act, where the presence of God is uniquely experienced. Jesus promised, "For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20). The sacraments, particularly baptism and the Lord's Supper, are outward signs of inward grace and serve as means of sanctification for the church community.

The Church's Ethical and Moral Standards

The holiness of the church is also reflected in its ethical and moral standards. Believers are called to live in a manner worthy of their calling, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and adhering to the teachings of Christ. The church is to be a light in the world, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel through righteous living and love for one another (John 13:34-35).

Challenges to Holiness

Despite its divine calling, the church faces challenges in maintaining its holiness. The New Testament addresses issues of sin and division within the church, urging believers to pursue reconciliation and purity (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). The church is called to exercise discipline and accountability, ensuring that its members reflect the holiness of God in their conduct.

In summary, the church as a holy place is a profound theological reality that encompasses the spiritual, communal, and ethical dimensions of the Christian faith. It is a living temple, a holy nation, and a beacon of God's presence in the world, called to embody and proclaim the holiness of God through its worship, mission, and daily life.Exodus 28:29
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
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Exodus 38:24
All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
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Leviticus 6:16
And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
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Leviticus 10:17
Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God has given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?
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Leviticus 14:13
And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:
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Leviticus 16:2-24
And the LORD said to Moses, Speak to Aaron your brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is on the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.
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Joshua 5:15
And the captain of the LORD's host said to Joshua, Loose your shoe from off your foot; for the place where on you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.
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1 Kings 8:8
And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are to this day.
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1 Chronicles 23:32
And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, in the service of the house of the LORD.
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2 Chronicles 29:5
And said to them, Hear me, you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
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2 Chronicles 30:27
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even to heaven.
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2 Chronicles 35:5
And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.
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Ezra 9:8
And now for a little space grace has been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
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Psalm 24:3
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
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Psalm 46:4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
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Psalm 68:17
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
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Ecclesiastes 8:10
And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
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Isaiah 57:15
For thus said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
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Ezekiel 41:4
So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said to me, This is the most holy place.
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Ezekiel 42:13
Then said he to me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach to the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
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Ezekiel 45:4
The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister to the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.
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Matthew 24:15
When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand:)
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Acts 6:13
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
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Acts 21:28
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted this holy place.
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Hebrews 9:12,25
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
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How He Ordered the Erection of a Church at Jerusalem, in the Holy ...
... Book III. Chapter XXV."How he ordered the Erection of a Church at Jerusalem,
in the Holy Place of our Saviour's Resurrection. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxv how he ordered the.htm

The Church, the Place of Worship
... As consecrated and set apart for the holy offices of religion, the church is the
proper place for the ministration of the Sacraments, and, preferably, for ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/the church the place of.htm

Symbolism of the Church Building
... This is one way in which the sanctuary of the church reminds us of heaven"by reminding
us of what is done in the heavenly "holy place," and also there. ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolism of the church building.htm

Final Settlement of the Church by St. John
... in of the Gentiles, the existence of the Church entirely apart from the Temple and
its services, the place she was ... to, the general guidance of the Holy Spirit. ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter iv final settlement of.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Jews
... Church.] But now all was altered; priests and people, Sadducees and Pharisees, were
alike vehement against those who ventured to assert that the "Holy Place ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter i the foundation of.htm

Arrangement and Furniture of the Church
... The place of prominence in the furnishing of the church is given to the Altar"a
table of stone or wood on which the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/arrangement and furniture of the.htm

Address in Lambeth Chapel, at the First Session of the Lambeth ...
... communions with Christ, what consolations of the Holy Spirit have been witnessed
in this sacred place. ... prophet's eye the Mission of the Church and planned ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whipple/five sermons/iv address in lambeth chapel.htm

Entire Sanctification as Taught by Jesus Christ.
... departure, and to the Holy Spirit who is promised to the believing church as its ...
or who shall stand in His holy place?" And He immediately answers it by saying ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter vi entire sanctification as.htm

Separated unto the Holy Ghost
... the place that God wanted the Holy Spirit to have.". Oh, the sin is greater than
we know! No wonder that there is so much feebleness and failure in the Church ...
/.../murray/absolute surrender/separated unto the holy ghost.htm

Period i. The Apostolic Age: to Circa AD 100
... and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church were persecuted,
and ... he thus departed from the world and went unto the holy place, having become ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the apostolic age .htm

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