God saves us to live holy lives, not just to escape hell. Romans 8:4, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Under the Old Covenant, an attempt at this only ever ended in failure. You can read the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy to see just how extensive the pursuit of holiness was then. (613 commandments) Since Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant for us, and made a New Covenant with God, we are really only up against two commandments. We find these in Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Psalm 15 begins with a question, “God, Who can be with You?” The verses following answer that question and give us more information as we pursue lives, justified, yet being sanctified, and hope to Live Out the Great Commandment Jesus left us with. “Holiness is not something to be received in a meeting; it is a life to be lived in detail.” (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones) Psalm 15 helps us connect the dots on the details of such a life. The Question, v.1. David’s question to God, very specifically is, “Who can worship You?” Who may be welcomed by the Lord as a guest in His house? Spurgeon posed David’s question this way, “Where angels bow with veiled faces, how shall man be able to worship at all?” “It is a question that calls for meditation upon one’s spiritual condition.” (Lawson) Knowing that all of life is to be worship we can broaden this question especially given the context of the answer to ask in a more general way, “How must we live to enjoy the fullness of fellowship with God?” (Boice) Think back to Eden. Adam and Eve were able to abide with & converse with Holy God. They communed with Him. We know what took this away, we know Jesus is the way back, but there is more. We don’t have to wait until the end of this life. We can begin now communing with God because of the reconciliation Christ has earned for us. Before we get into answering this question, there is an important note to make. This is a question of sanctification, not justification. It is a question of Godly living and not salvation. “The justified person is not made right with God by keeping the moral law. Justification is by the work of Christ. But if a person has really been justified, he or she will necessarily begin to keep it, moving increasingly in this direction. This is because no one is ever justified apart from regeneration, and regeneration means that the Spirit of God is at work in us to bring us into increasing conformity to the character of Christ.” (James Montgomery Boice) Wiersbe said, “It’s important to note that Psalm 15 is not a prescription for being saved but a description of how saved people ought to live if they want to please God and fellowship with Him.” As we think through this and hopefully look to apply it in our lives this week…2 Timothy 3:12 is an important reminder, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” This is no prosperity gospel. Living this way is not the “secret sauce” to health and wealth, but it is what will bring us the most fulfillment in this life and the next! The Answer, v.2-5a. David answers his question by addressing 7 areas of life: Our works, thoughts, speech, relationships, views, integrity, and finances. Works. (2a) He who walks uprightly and does righteous works. A person whose character is morally well-rounded and grounded. One who is the same Monday through Saturday as on Sunday morning. James 2:15-17, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Matthew 25:34-39, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” “…regeneration that produces genuine faith always also expresses itself in right action.” (Boice) This blameless person is not strong in certain areas of his life and weak in others. Every part of his life comes together to form a complete and balanced life of godly living. A person who leads a life marked by consistent conformity to the Word of God. (Hearer and Doer) Thoughts. (2b) He speaks the truth in his heart. Words spoken originate with our thoughts. The sanctified one, keeps his thought life pure. Though no man knows, God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. Further, this one fears the misuse of speech if the thought life is not kept in check. MacDonald says, “You can depend on this man to tell the truth from his heart. He would rather die than lie. His word is his bond. His yes means yes and his no means no.” How do you go about doing this? (Keeping the thought life pure) Fill your thoughts with the truths of Scripture. “When God’s Word dwells within a person, sin diminishes.” (Lawson) Speech. (3a) He speaks the truth inwardly, but also outwardly. He doesn’t slander with his tongue. Does not gossip. He does not attack others maliciously with his mouth. He disciplines his tongue to edify instead of assassinate! (MacDonald) Relationships. (3b) He does his neighbor no wrong. This is a question of, “how do we treat others?” Do you treat other people with respect? Do you avoid talking down to them? Are you mean? These verses tell us that these things displease God and are a barrier to fellowship with Him. Being right with God means being right with others. We are to do no evil to our neighbor. Our whole desire is to help, to encourage and to instruct. When we hear some juicy tidbit of scandal about a friend, we let it die right there. He or she can depend on us not to repeat it to anyone. Views. (4) Our values, not how we treat others…but how we regard them. Who do you regard as an example and who do you find offensive? The one whom God welcomes has no use for those who live in opposition to the Word of God. He despises the vile man and honors the Godly. He affirms and associates with those who reverence God with a life of faith and obedience. Vile from the Hebrew means: worthless, polluted, dirty, or morally depraved. “A genuine worshiper rejects the sinner, in the sense of rejecting his defiling influence, associations, and partnership. “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6 NASB).” (Lawson) Integrity. (4b) He keeps his oath. He holds fast to his commitments, no matter what the cost. Once he makes a promise he stands by it, even if that means personal loss. Finances. (5) There is integrity and blamelessness in the use of money. He does not take advantage of one who must borrow. He does not take bribes against the innocent, but instead champions the cause of the innocent and the needy. “They do not let the potential for personal gain influence matters of principle.” (Lawson) The Conclusion, v.5b. One living enjoying God’s fellowship, God’s protection, and God’s provision should expect to never be moved. He who does these things will never be shaken. “If you are God’s, you may be shaken, but you will never be shaken loose.” (Boice) Conclusion: Living according to Psalm 15 will assist us in Living Out the Great Commandment. Love God with your all. Love your neighbor as yourself. Striving within the 7 areas David mentions will directly effect our walk with God and others. All of life is worship — “Personal holiness in the life of a believer is a prerequisite for worshiping God.” (Lawson) Respond to Psalm 15 by honestly answering: Am I living a blameless and righteous life? In what ways have I attacked and slandered the character of others? Do I speak the whole truth when interacting with others? Do I use my money to help others and to glorify God?