Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

Psalm 118:19 ESV

We have to enter through the gate of righteousness. We receive the righteousness of Christ, and it is by His perfect righteousness we enter into the Holy Place and are welcome in God’s presence.

John tells us what that looks like. It’s not just an ethereal righteousness; it’s practical and shows in our life if we are abiding in Christ. He says we have to walk in the light or the darkness will overtake us. In 1 John 1 he will tell us there is no darkness in God at all. To be cleansed from our sin we have to walk in the light. In 1 John 2 he says what it looks like. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and the one who hates his brother is in darkness even if he says he’s abiding in the light. The proof is in the actions, not the words.

David showed his love for his brother, even one who made himself an enemy. The Lord had revealed to him what righteousness looked like, and he walked in it.

If we abide in the light, in the word of truth that we’ve been taught by the Lord, then we abide in the Son and in the Father. They will be our dwelling place, which is the place of shalom, and we give thanks.