Our first answer to this question is an obvious one...no one. Because all are guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23), all have lost the right to have an audience before the throne of heaven's Great One. Yet, that is the beautiful story of the Bible, how that God in His goodness and graciousness is willing to receive man back from the depths of sin if he will submit to His terms of repentance. Since this is well within every man to comply, it is correct to say every man has the chance to stand before God.
This question is asked in one of the most beautiful Psalms...Psa. 24. This psalm is the finishing touch in a great trilogy (Psa. 22-24). While almost everyone knows Psa. 23, probably not all know the theme that runs through these 3 pslams. All 3 are Messianic psalms, discussing different aspects of Jesus and His work. Psa. 22 depicts Him as the suffering Savior (a view from the cross). Psa. 23 shows Him as the comforting Shepherd. Finally, Psa. 24 has Him as the exalted Sovereign. Some commentators have even labeled them "The Cross, The Crook, The Crown." Seeing this theme is vital for us to understand the question posed in Psa. 24:3.
The question is followed by the answer, "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully" (v. 4) [NASV].
Hands are the instruments by which we do anything. Most likely our actions are being referenced. We cleanse them when we refrain from sin. Not only our actions, but also our motives behind those actions need to be right. The shrewd and calculating heart will never come to God because such a reward cannot be obtained through "wheeling and dealing." God receives those who are sincere and who have a single-minded purpose to live for and with God (cp. Mt. 5:8; Jas. 4:8).
To "lift up the soul to falsehood" is to set one's life on vain, false things. It is to miss the purpose in life - service to God. Nothing else will ever be as important (cp. Eccl. 12:13-14). The one who gets to stand before God will also be known as one who keeps his word; he can always be relied on faithfully (cp. Mt. 5:33-37).
Who may stand before God? Anyone, if he is willing to abide by His word.
