Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. (Psalm 15 NLT) Blameless lives - can any of us actually say we have or are living blameless lives? I dare not imagine what would be the outcome of your inspection of my life! I have lived far short of blameless! The only thing that makes it possible for me to approach a holy God is the holiness of Jesus. The only thing that makes it possible for you to approach a holy God is the holiness of Jesus and his grace applied...
As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. (Galatians 6:14-16 NLT) Our interest in this world went to the cross the moment we said yes to Jesus - it was nailed there once and for all. We don't have to struggle with this world's temptations and influence if we truly believe all that 'old stuff' of our lives before Christ was actually dealt the final blow of death. We try to complicate this new life in Christ will all manner of things, rituals, and 'systems'. Truth be told, the world only complicates things through 'religion'. All 'belonging to a denomination' will ever...