Communion Message
(Who may dwell in your sanctuary?)
September 1, 2002
Pastor Leighton Sheley

David writes this as recorded for us in Psalm 15, he says, Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? That is, he's asking the question, who can come into the presence of God, most holy? And then he continues with this answer. He says, he whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

I think if we were honest today and we listened to this description that David gives us, we would realize that we don't really fit this description. For our walk has not been blameless, and we've done some things that are not righteous. We haven't always spoken the truth from our heart, sometimes we fudged a little, it might be a white lie. And no slender on his tongue, does his neighbor no wrong, casts no slur on his fellow man -- sometimes things slip. And of course, we have a propensity to honor those who are successful in terms of this world, and yet godless, and be ashamed of those who carry a banner of righteousness, those who fear the Lord. Sometimes we don't keep our oaths, even if it hurts a little bit. Who can ascend?

John writes this, 1 John 1:8 and following, if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Scriptures tell us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, there is no covering for sins.. Here it says he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ paid the wages of our sin by shedding his blood on Calvary's cross.

The writer to Hebrews records this for us in chapter 10: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place, that is, the presence of God, by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we might spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Let us spur one another on toward good deeds we're told. You know, at times like this the Scriptures say that we should examine ourselves, and so I'd like to invite you, if you're physically able, to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Lord we're so thankful that we can come into your presence, not based on any righteousness we might have, because we don't have any, but clothed in a righteousness that is by faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for paying the wages of our sin on Calvary's cross. The elements that we hold remind us of the price that you paid, and remind us that you are indeed faithful to keep your promises. This day we confess our sins and ask you to cleanse us and forgive us in the name of Jesus. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.