Who Can Dwell With God?
Psalm 15:1-5
Earlier this week, a man named Stephen Rogata REALLY wanted to speak with Donald Trump. He was so intent on speaking with the business mogul that he spent three hours climbing the glass facade of Trump Tower. It became very clear that Rogatta was not welcome at the Trump residence when he was snatched through a window by the police, arrested and charged with a felony. This young man was reported to be a "Trump supporter" and simply wanted an audience with the GOP presidential nominee.
I must admit that trump is nowhere near the top of the list of people that I would like to meet.... in fact, he is not even on the list. But this event made me think about the amazing privilege that we have as Christians. Because of Christ's work at Calvary we have been granted access to the Father. (After enduring the agony of the Cross) Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. - Mark 15:37 ----- The veil which separated the holy place from the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom. Up until this point only the High Priest was privileged to enter into this place. The veil being torn symbolized the fact that now all may have access to the throne of Grace
There is no way to accurately articulate the awesome privilege that we have to be able to approach a Holy God. Here in Psalm 15, David asks a very important two part question concerning who may approach God. He asks "Who may abide in your sanctuary, Lord?" and "Who may dwell in your presence on your holy hill?"
David's question speaks of a temporary situation and an eternal one. To "abide" is temporary, to "dwell" is permanent. Those who are saved are currently "abiding" in Christ... But we will "dwell" with Him throughout all of eternity! These are some encouraging truths, but there is more to "abiding in Christ" than simply being delivered from your sins . It is essential that as Children of the most High God, we do our part to "abide" in a right relationship with Him.
- I would like to walk through this Psalm and see the answer to David's question "Who Can Dwell With God?" --- There is no better place to start that the very beginning, so let's look to verse 1.
I. Who Can Dwell With God: The Question - v1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Though David possessed a great privilege in being God's chosen King of Israel, it seems that he was somewhat envious of the Priests. With all of his power and authority, he was not permitted to enter into the Holy Place. This privilege was reserved for the High Priest. David's question illustrates the desire of his heart. Many people today have another desire, multitudes of people are on a quest. People from all walks of life are searching for answers. They are looking for direction. They are longing for peace and security concerning their eternal destination. Some hope to "live good enough" to make it to Heaven. They are trusting in their morality and good works to get them there. Some are trusting religion, rituals and ceremonies to secure their eternal life.
Maybe you are one who is searching for answers. I can assure you the answer is not religion, works or morality. But there is an answer to your question, and it is found in the answer to David's question. Look with me to verse 2:
II. Who Can Dwell With God: The Answer - v2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
David's question was essentially "who has access to God"? Christians are privileged to have access to God! But not everyone has this access. Those who have never been saved may acknowledge God, they may believe in God, they may fear God (to a point) and they may pray to God. But they do not have access to God unless they are "in Christ".
My friend if you seek to attain comfort, blessings and Protection from God you must be saved! If you pray to the Father without surrendering to the Son, you are wasting your time. It is only through Jesus that we are adopted into the family of God. Because of this, we are now sons of God and joint heirs with Christ. If you have never surrendered to Christ you cannot claim the benefits of spiritual adoption.
I know without a doubt that if I ever need anything I can go to my earthly and ask him for help. Without fail, if the request is within his power and ability he will do all that he can to help me. If you go and ask him for help he may or may not be able to meet your need. But I have full confidence that I can claim certain privileges because I am his son.
The same is true concerning the Heavenly Father. In order for you to have full access to His Heavenly riches you must belong to Him. And there is good news... you can be adopted into the family of God today and receive full access to all that the Father has to offer! You can abide with Him now and dwell with Him forever!
The simple answer to David's question of "who can dwell in God's Holy hill" is... only those who are born again. But David's question goes a little deeper. He also asked "who shall abide in thy tabernacle?"
There is major a problem among many who profess to be Christians. Some of our brethren have forfeited the opportunity to "draw near unto God". Though Christ has secured our access to God, many Christians have created a barrier that hinders that access. The barrier that I am referring to is called "sin". Sin hinders many important elements of a Christian's relationship with God. Sin hinders your walk with God, your work for God and your worship of God. Simply put, you cannot have a right relationship with your Heavenly Father when sin controls your life.
In verse 2, David lays out some principles that we must observe in order to be in a right relationship with God. In fact he answers his own question concerning "Who Is Able To Abide With God?" Consider answer #1:
A. Those Who Have Clean Feet - v2 He that walketh uprightly,
Our "feet" represent our walk. Walking "Uprightly" speaks of a pure walk. This is someone who does not allow their feet to take them to places of wickedness. ---- Is God pleased with how you are living your life? Is he pleased with the places that you go? Hear this... you cannot "abide in high places" and live the low life!
If you have "clean feet" you will flee temptation, avoid sin, seek after what is Holy and follow God. When you follow God and allow Him to direct you steps... you will have clean feet!
- Answer # 2 to David's question concerning "Who Is Able To Abide With God?" is:
B. Those Who Have Clean Hands - (he that)worketh righteousness
"Clean feet" refers to where we go, "clean hands" refer to what we do. If you seek to abide in the Lord's presence, your work must be "righteous". Righteousness speaks of that which is right, holy and acceptable to God. Ephesians 2:10 (says that) we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
As Christians we are expected to perform good works. We do not do good works to get saved, we do good works because WE ARE SAVED! He who "worketh righteousness" describes the Christian who realizes that he has duties to perform. We are to serve the Lord and we are to serve our neighbors. In order to do this properly, our hands must be clean.
Clean hands require purity in our actions and our activities. You cannot successfully serve God with one foot in the church and one foot in the world! You cannot live a hypocritical lifestyle and expect to have a positive impact on others. We who are saved have been "sanctified"... this means to be set apart. Simply put, we are in the world but not of this world. Listen to the Word of the Lord in - 2 Corinthians 6:14 what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
There ought to be a change in those who are born again! There should be a difference in the way that you live and the way the lost man lives. But here is the question... IS THERE?!?! Is there evidence that you belong to Christ in the things that you say, the places that you go, the crowd that you run with and is there evidence that you belong to Christ in the things that you do?
Are your hands clean? If you desire to abide with Christ THEY MUST BE! Moving on we find Answer #3 to David's question concerning "Who Is Able To Abide With God?":
C. Those Who Have Clean Hearts - (he that) and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Clean feet and clean hands are the result of having a clean heart. Likewise, dirty feet and dirty hands are the result of having a dirty heart! What comes out of our mouth comes directly from our heart.
In Matthew 12, Jesus said that those who are evil cannot speak good things. He went on to say that "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh". If you want to know where someone stands in their walk with Christ all you have to do is listen to them for a while. Those who are abiding with Christ have a holy conversation. Their conversation is not corrupt or vulgar. On the other hand, if you are around someone and their conversation is filled with profanity and other crude language then you know that they are NOT abiding with Christ!
Jesus said that the Pharisees attempted to honor God with their words but "their hearts were far from Him". (Matthew 15:8-9) - They were good at following the traditions of men. But they were wicked, sinful people who had no true relationship with God. Their hearts were dirty! Today the church is filled with people who are just like the Pharisees, they can go through the motions, they can play the game, they know all of the religious rituals but their lives are filled with sin. And this sin is evident by where they go and what they do. Their sin is seen in their dirty hands and dirty feet resulting from their dirty heart!
Contrary to what many believe, you do not have a license to sin just because you have experienced the grace of God! Remember what Paul said in - Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
If you continue to live a life that is marked by willful sin, you need to examine whether you have truly ever been saved! If you have been saved there will be abundant evidence seen in your life!
Verses 3-5 describes evidence seen on those who have clean feet, clean hands and a clean heart - v3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Those who are fit to abide and dwell with God will not gossip about others, they will not harm their neighbors, they do not speak evil against their friends, they despise blatant sin, they keep their promises and they are not corrupt in their business dealings. The attributes that David mentions in this Psalm will be evident in the individual who walks with Christ!
Apart from Christ... no one can live good enough to abide in God's sanctuary or dwell in His holy hill. Apart from Christ... none of us have any chance of inheriting eternal life and a home in Heaven. But there is a free gift called salvation that is available to all. Many of you profess to possess salvation through Jesus Christ. If that is true then you will desire to abide with Christ each and every day.
Those who are truly saved are new creatures in Christ. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. -- This means that there will be evidence of your salvation in your daily walk.
Several passages in the New Testament clarify who WILL and who WILL NOT dwell with God. Consider - Ephesians 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Notice the phrase "no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God." This means that if these actions describe you, YOU CANNOT DWELL WITH GOD! In Colossians Paul contrasts the "old man" of the flesh with the "new man" who is in Christ.
Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
There is a clear distinction between who can abide and dwell with God and who can not. Do you qualify as one who can dwell with God? Are you certain of your eternal destiny? Have you surrendered to Christ? Have you been born again and washed in the blood of the Lamb? If you haven't... you can, right here and right now! God is sending you an invitation to abide with Him eternally!
If you know that you indeed have been born again, are you spending each and every day intimately abiding with Christ? If not... you have the opportunity to start right here today. Who Can Dwell With God?? ...............YOU CAN!
