Who can come into God's presence?

“Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill?” Psalm 15:1
This week, we’re going to take a close look at Psalm 15. The psalm opens with a question: who can come into God’s presence? The sanctuary: the tabernacle, and later, the temple, was the place where God had promised to dwell among His people. The dwelling-place of God was in the Holy of Holies, which was separated from the Holy Place by a curtain, and the Holy Place itself was closed off within a courtyard. Only the priests were allowed into the Holy Place, and only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies – and that only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, and after great ceremonial preparation to cleanse him of his sin.
Sometimes we can feel as if we are restricted from entering God’s presence. It is true that not everyone can enter His presence. As we learn in the picture of the high priest entering the Holy of Holies, anything sinful cannot come into God’s presence. But if we are in Christ, then we are clothed with His righteousness, and His sinless life is what God sees when He looks at us. Jesus is our great high priest, without sin, and we can enter God’s presence in Him. This does not mean that we can continue to commit sin without consequence. Our lives should be being conformed to the life of Christ. The more we live in righteousness, the more in tune we will be to God, and the better we will come to know Him.