1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15

In the Old Testament, the House of the Lord was a building.

In the New Testament, the House of the Lord is our body.

1. Rules Governing Deportment

• Walk Uprightly

To deliver you… from the man… whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths. Prov. 2:12,15

2. Rules Governing Vocation

• Work Righteousness

And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world… about sin and about righteousness… Jn. 16:8

3. Rules Governing Speech

• Speak Truth in your Heart

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord… Psalm 19:14

• Do not Backbite with your Tongue

the wicked… speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. Psalm 28:3

An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends. Prov. 16:27-28

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. Mt. 18:15

…speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:2

4. Rules Governing Social Interaction

• Do no Evil to your Neighbour

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11

• Do not Take up a Reproach against your Friend

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

5. Rules Governing Decency & Decorum

• Despise a Vile Person

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil… Isaiah 5:20

• Honour those who Fear the Lord

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Rom. 13:7

…honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! 1 Thess. 5:12

6. Rules Governing Personal Ethics

Swears to his own hurt and does not change. Ps. 15:4

• Follow through on a promise regardless of the cost
• Do not Charge Usury – Doesn’t charge for doing good

One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion gathers it for him who will pity the poor. Prov. 28:8

• Do not take a Bribe – Doesn’t benefit for doing wrong

A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back to pervert the ways of justice. Proverbs 17:23

The Law of the Spirit of Life Empowers Us

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Rom. 8:11

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. Rom. 8:5-7,9