Who Can Dwell With God?
Psalm 15:1-5
As Christians we have an amazing privilege. 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. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." - Mark 15:37-38
When Jesus died, 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 symbolizes the fact that all may now 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.
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?"........."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! I would like to walk through this Psalm and examine 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. THE QUESTION - v1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
David possessed a great privilege in being God's chosen King of Israel, but 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 was a privilege that was reserved for the High Priest. David's question illustrates the desire of his heart.
Many people today 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. Others are trusting religion, rituals and ceremonies to secure their eternal life. If you are one who is searching for answers concerning eternity, 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. 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"? As God's children we have access to the Father, 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), they may pray to God, but they do not have access to God.
If you seek to attain comfort, blessings and protection from God you must belong to God! Those who pray to the Father without surrendering to the Son, are wasting their time. It is only through Jesus that we are adopted into the family of God. Those who are saved are now the 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 willing or able to meet your need. But 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. The good news for you is that you can be adopted into His family and receive full access to all that the Father has to offer! You can abide with Him now and dwell with Him forever!
So the simple answer to David's question of "who can dwell in God's Holy hill" is... only those who belong to Him. But you will notice that David's question goes a little deeper....He also asked "who shall abide in thy tabernacle?" The lost man cannot dwell in God's Holy Hill because they do not belong to Him. But many saved people constantly forfeit the opportunity to "draw near unto God".
Christ has secured our access to God, but 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. The reality is, 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 doing so, 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? Someone said "you cannot abide in high places and live the low life!"
Those who have "clean feet" 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.
You cannot successfully serve God with one foot in the church and one foot in the world! You cannot live a like the world and expect to have a positive impact in the world! 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 what Paul says 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 will be a change in those who are born again! Is there a difference in the way that you live and the people of the world life? Are your hands clean? If you desire to abide with Christ THEY MUST BE!
- This verse also shows us 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!
Jesus said that what comes out of our mouth comes directly from our heart. In Matthew 12, He 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". Those who abide with Christ have a holy conversation, their conversation is not corrupt or vulgar. If the opposite is true, 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 go through the motions, they play the game, they know all of the religious rituals, but their lives are filled with sin. This 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.”
Those who continue to live lives marked by willful sin, need to examine whether they 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. These attributes will be evident in the individual who walks with Christ!
Most people here profess to possess salvation through Jesus Christ. If that is true then there will be a desire to abide with Christ each and every day. You will have clean hands, clean feet and clean hearts! The only way that any of this is possible is through Jesus Christ. No one can live good enough to abide in God's sanctuary or dwell in His holy hill apart from Jesus Christ. None of us have any chance of inheriting eternal life and a home in Heaven without Jesus. If you have never surrendered to Jesus Christ, I encourage you to do so while there is still time!
In this Psalm David provides 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 spending each and every day intimately abiding with Christ? If not... you have the opportunity to start right here today. Who is it that can dwell with God? YOU CAN!!!!
