Study Regarding How God “Sees” People Prior To and After Salvation
This study was done in response to a comment made in a sermon given by Robert Morris regarding a conversation with his daughter. She had called to ask for his critique on her school assignment, the chosen subject being that God sees people differently before and after salvation. Pastor Morris admitted in the sermon that he told his daughter the premise of her entire speech was unscriptural, that God does NOT see people differently prior to and after accepting Jesus as Savior because His character never changes.
Make no mistake, it was not that God loves them differently, which is unscriptural, but that he sees them differently. I knew when he made the statement, it was wrong, so I set out to find the truth of God’s Word because, if I was in error, I wanted to know. What follows is relevant scriptures, along with pertinent words and their definitions from the original Hebrew and Greek languages, as they appear in the Bible, Genesis to Revelation. A contemporary translation is included for clarity’s sake, along with the KJ Version or Interlinear Bible translation for accuracy’s sake. Defined words are underlined and are pulled from the King James Version or the Interlinear Bible because Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is keyed to these translations.
Genesis 18:20-21 NLT “So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are extremely evil, and that everything they do is wicked. I am going down to see whether or not these reports are true. Then I will know.”
KJV “And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”
Cry (vs 20) 2201 in Strongs za’aq from 2199 zaqah (zeh-aw-kaw’) a shriek or outcry
Cry (vs 21) 6818 in Strongs tsa’aqah from 6817 tsa’aq (tsaw-ak’) prim root – to shriek; by implication- to proclaim an assembly, call together, gather selves together
Sin 2403 in Strongs chatta’ah (khat-taw-aw’) offense, sinfulness; from 2398 primary root- to sin, offend, trespass
Grievous 3513 in Strongs kaw-bade (kaw-bade’) prim root; to be heavy in a bad sense, burdensome, severe or dull; causative- to make weighty OR can be used in the good sense to mean numerous, rich or honorable. Context determines application. Since God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, the bad sense is the one applied in this verse.
See 7200 in Strongs ra ah (raw-aw’) to see. Literally or figurately: behold, consider, discern, gaze, spy, stare or view.
Come 935 in Strongs bow (bo) prim root-to go or come in a wide variety of app. Come against, befall, besiege, to come upon
Conclusion to be drawn from original language: Because the shriek/outcry from S & G was great, and because their offenses/trespasses were heavy and severe, God beheld or viewed their offenses/trespasses according to their assembly (many people were involved), to see if the offenses came against Him.
God is saying He will behold for Himself the sins of S & G to discern if they come against Him, and if they don’t, He will know. Well, God wiped them from the face of the earth, so it’s pretty obvious what God thought of what His gaze beheld.
Exodus 12:13 NLT “The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will Passover you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
KJV “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Blood 1818 in Strongs dam (dawm) blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or animal.
Token 226 in Strongs owth (oth) a signal (lit or fig) as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy evidence. A mark, miracle or sign.
See 7200 in Strongs ra ah (raw-aw’) to see. Literally or figurately: behold, consider, discern, gaze, spy, stare or view.
Pass 6452 in Strongs pacach (paw-sakh’) to hop, to skip over or to spare
Plague 5063 in Strongs negeph (neh-ghef) a trip (of the foot), stumbling; figuratively, and infliction of disease
Destroy 4889 in Strongs mashchiyth (mash-kheeth) to destroy, destruction, trap
Smite 5221 in Strongs nakah (naw-kaw) to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively), beat, kill, give wounds, slay
Conclusion drawn from original languages: God used blood as a mark or sign, one which could be seen, to spare his people from the disease of death the Egyptians would suffer.
God looks down on our sin and differentiates between those who are holy and those who are not. The use of blood is a precursor to the blood of Jesus which covers the redeemed and allows God to see them as righteous, as opposed to those who aren’t.
Job 15: 14-16 NLT “Can a mortal be pure? Can a human be just? Why, God doesn’t even trust the angels! Even the heavens cannot be absolutely pure in His sight. How much less pure is a corrupt (filthy) and sinful person with a thirst for wickedness?!”
KJV “What is man, that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in His saints; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?”
Clean v. 14 2135 in Strongs zakah (zaw-kaw) to be translucent, to be innocent, to count as pure
Righteous 6662 in Strongs from 6663 tsadaq (tsaw-dak) to be right (in a moral or forensic sense); to clear or justify self
Trust 539 in Strongs aman (aw-man’) to render firm or faithful; morally to be true or certain
Saints 6918 in Strongs qadosh (kaw-doshe’) sacred (ceremonially or morally); an angel
Clean v. 15 2141 in Strongs zakak (zaw-kak’) to be transparent or clean, be pure
Abominable 8581 in Strongs ta ab (taw-ab) to loathe, detest, abhor
Filthy 444 in Strongs alach (aw-lakh’) to muddle, figuratively to turn corrupt or become filthy.
Sight 5869 in Strongs ayin (ahh’-yin) fig. or literally: an eye. (In this case, God’s eye because the His pronoun refers to God).
Iniquity 5766 in Strongs olah (o-law) (moral) evil, perverseness, wickedness
Conclusion drawn from original language: How can man be counted as pure or morally right? How can a human justify himself? God puts no moral certainty in His angels; even the heavens are not clean in his eyes. How much more detestable/loathsome and corrupt is man who drinks perverseness and wickedness like water?
Wow. This makes God’s perception regarding the filth of mankind obvious, don’t you think?
Psalms 14:1-3, Also 53:1-3 NIV “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. V.2. The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. V. 3. All have turned aside they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
KJV “The fool hath said in his heart, “There is no God.” They (fools) are corrupt, they (fools) have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good (no fools who do good). V2. “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men (fools) to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. V3. They (children of men, fools who say there is no God) are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy.” Chapter 53:1-3 is almost verbatim, certainly close enough for the scope of this study.
Fool 5036 in Strongs nabal (naw-bawl’) stupid; wicked (esp. impious); vile person
Looked 8259 in Strongs shaqaph (shaw-kaf’) to peep or gaze, to look (down, forth, out).
See 7200 in Strongs ra’ah (raw-aw’) figuratively or literally, to see, behold, consider, discern, gaze, spy, stare or view.
Filthy 444 in Strongs alach (aw-lakh’) to muddle, figuratively to turn corrupt or become filthy.
Conclusion drawn from original language: God looked down on the hearts of wicked/vile people who say there is no God (the unredeemed). God saw the wicked/vile people had muddled their lives by becoming filthy or corrupt.
God sees those who are without salvation as filthy and corrupt.
Psalms 51:7 NLT “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
KJV “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purge 2398 in Strongs chata’ (khaw-taw’) to purge, purify (self), to make reconciliation
Clean 2891 in Strongs taher (taw-hare’) to be bright, to be pure.
Wash 3526 in Strongs kabac (kaw-bas’) to trample, hence to wash, literally to fill up with washing.
Whiter 3835 in Strongs laban (law-ban) to be or become white.
Conclusion drawn from the original language: The Psalmist petitions to be reconciled to God so he can be pure. He wants to be filled with God’s washing so he can become whiter than snow.
If God doesn’t see us differently prior to and after salvation, why does He use visual references which are readily recognized? Why did the Psalmist ask to be washed so he could be reconciled (seen as pure) to God?
Psalm 139:24 NIV “See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
KJV “And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
See 7200 in Strongs ra ah (raw-aw’) to see. Literally or figurately: behold, consider, discern, gaze, spy, stare or view.
Wicked 6090 otseb (o’-tseb) , a var. of etseb 6089 which goes back to root word, atsab 6087, to carve, to fabricate or fashion, to worry, pain or anger, to displease, grieve, hurt, be sorry, vex (among others).
Way 1870 in Strongs derek (deh-rek) a trodden road; figuratively: a course of life or mode of action.
Lead 5148 in Strongs nachah (naw-khaw’) prim root, to guide, bring or lead, put
Everlasting 5769 in Strongs olam (o-lawm) eternity, eternal, world without end.
Conclusion drawn from original language: Behold/Discern if I am traveling a road which causes you displeasure, grief or anger, and guide me in the course of life toward a world without end.
God sees the sin in our lives and changes our trajectory. He does this because sin, by nature is wicked and offensive. The Psalmist is asking God to see if He finds anything sinful so it can be corrected and he can go to heaven.
Isaiah 1:16-18 NLT “Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows. Come now, let us argue this out,” says the Lord. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool.”
KJV “Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; Cease to do evil; v. 17. Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. V. 18. Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Wash 7364 in Strongs rachat (raw-khats’) to lave, wash or bathe self
Ye not in Strongs. Word inserted by translators to facilitate understanding
Clean 2135 is Strongs zakah (zaw-kaw) to be translucent, fig; to be innocent, cleanse, be clear, count pure.
Evil 7455 in Strongs roa (ro-ah) be so bad, evil, naughtiness, sadness, sorrow, wickedness.
Before 5048 in Strongs neged (neh’-ghed) to view
Eyes 5869 in Strongs ayin (ah’-yin) lit or fig, an eye
Be is an article which is not listed in Strongs
Scarlet 8144 in Strongs shaniy (Shawnee) crimson thread, prop of an insect or its color or stuff dyed with it.
Red 119 in Strongs adam (aw-dam’) to show blood in the face, to turn red or rosy, be dyed or made red.
White 3835 in Strongs laban (law-ban) to be or become white.
Conclusion drawn from original language: Bathe and be made innocent. Put away your wicked behavior so that I no longer view it with my eyes. Stop doing evil, do these things instead (all of v. 17). Though your sins be crimson, I can make them become white. Though your sins are red I can make them like wool.
This verse tells us that when God views us (before my eyes) He sees our sin as red and wicked. He commands us to be washed so that we can be innocent and counted pure, seen by Him as white, without the stain of sin.
God clearly sees us one way prior to righteousness found in Jesus and differently after righteousness in Jesus.
Isaiah 43:25 NIV “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more.
KJV “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
Blotteth 4229 in Strongs machah (maw-khaw’) to erase, abolish, wipe away.
Transgressions 6588 in Strongs pesha (peh’-shah’) a revolt; a national, moral or religious rebellion, sin, trespass, Transgression.
Sake 4616 in Strongs ma’an (mah’-an) from 6030 heed, ie: purpose as a motive or an aim
Remember 2142 in Strongs zakar (zaw-kar’) to mark (so as to be recognized)
Conclusion from original language: God erases or wipes away our sin/moral rebellion for His own purpose/objective and fails to mark them as recognizable.
For His own purposes (reasons determined by God) He erases or wipes away our rebellion, so He no longer sees our sins.
God would not spend time wiping away something He does not see, so this is another visual reference to how God sees us differently prior to and after salvation.
Isaiah 64:6a NIV “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags….”
KJV “But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags….”
Unclean 2931 in Strongs ‘tame (taw may) ‘foul in a religious sense: defiled, polluted.’
Righteousnesses 6666 Strongs back to prim. root 6663 tsadaq (tsaw-dak) to be or make right, cleanse, clear self, justify self Filthy 5708 in Strongs “ayd” meaning ‘the menstrual flux, (plural) soiling/filthy’
Conclusion drawn from original language: We are all defiled/polluted. Our ability to cleanse, clear or justify ourselves is as soiled as menstrual rags.
Isaiah is talking to the Israelites specifically because they rejected God and His mighty works (verses 3-5, and 7). However, Isaiah’s words apply generally to all people (Romans 3:23). If God sees His chosen people, the Israelites, as filth when they refuse Him, it’s nonsensical to think God sees Gentiles who reject Him any differently. All who sin are foul and stand defiled and polluted before God. So, basically, rags filled with menstrual waste would look repulsive and smell the same way. God loves us because we are His created children, but without the redeeming blood of Jesus covering us, to make us pure, God sees us as polluted repulsive people, covered in filth. Would you want to live eternally with such a creature?
Jeremiah 4:1 NLT “O Israel, come back to me,” says the Lord. “If you will throw away your detestable idols and go astray no more,”
KJV “If you will return O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me; and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then thou shalt not remove.
Sight 6440 in Strongs paniym (paw-neem’) and paneh (paw-neh); the face as the part that turns.
Abominations 8251 in Strongs shiqquwts (shik-koots’) root word is 8262 shaqats (shaw-kats’) together they mean to be filthy, to loathe, to be disgusting or detestable.
Conclusion drawn from original language: God is telling Israel to put away the filthy detestable parts of themselves where His face cannot turn to see them…(Remember God can see everywhere, so He wants those parts gone!). He wants them to return to him.
Zephaniah 3:1-2 NLT “How terrible it will be for rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime. It profoundly refuses to listen even to the voice of the Lord. No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not rust in the Lord or draw near to its God.”
KJV (The future of Jerusalem) “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; She trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.”
Filthy 4754 in Strongs mara (maw-raw’) to rebel, filthy, to lift up self
Polluted 1351 in Strongs gaal (gaw-al’) prim. root to soil or desecrate, defile, pollute, stain
Conclusion drawn from original language: God clearly sees those who do not obey Him, those who receive not His correction, those who do not trust in Him or draw near to Him, those who reject Him, as filthy.
Zechariah 3:1-5 NLT “Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan was there at the angel’s right hand, accusing Joshua of many things. And the Lord said to Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from a fire.” Joshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So, the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his clothes.” And turning to Joshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.” Then I said, “Please, could he also have a clean turban on his head?” So, they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by.”
KJV “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. V. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; Even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire? V.3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel. V. 4. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. V. 5. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.”
Shewed 7200 in Strongs raah (raw-aw’) prim root, to see, literally or figuratively in numerous applications.
Angel 4397 in Strongs malak (mal-awk’) to dispatch as a deputy, a messenger, spec. of God
Lord 3068 in Strongs Yehovah (yeh-ho-vaw’) (the) self-Existent or Eternal, Jehovah the Lord
Filthy 6674 in Strongs tso (tso) from an unused root meaning to issue; soiled (as if excrementitious)
Iniquity 5771 in Strongs avown (aw-vone’) ie: moral evil: fault, iniquity, sin
Pass 5674 in Strongs abar (aw-bar’) prim root; to cross over used very widely of any transition
Fair 2889 in Strongs tahor (taw-hore’) clean, fair or pure in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense.
Conclusion drawn from the original language: Initially, God sees Joshua as soiled, as if he’s wearing excrement. Then God transitioned Joshua’s moral evil/sin from him, after which God sees Joshua as morally clean or pure.
Does it get any more straightforward than this? What’s so wonderful about this passage is that it’s Old Testament, before Jesus died for anyone! It speaks to the unchanging nature of our awesome God, He sees sin in the OT the same as He sees it in the New, and this passage speaks to the coming of the Messiah whose death enables God to see all redeemed people as pure.
John 1:4-9 NIV “Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The Light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.
KJV “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Life 2222 in Strongs zoe (dzo-ay’) life (literally or figuratively)
Light 5457 in Strongs phos (foce), to shine or make manifest especially by rays, fire, light.
Shineth 5316 in Strongs phaino (fah’ee-no) to lighten or show.
Darkness 4653 in Strongs skotia (sko-tee-ah) dimness, obscurity (defined as “unknown” by google), darkness.
Bear Witness 3140/3141 in Strongs martureo/marturia (mar-too’-ree-ah) testify/ evidence given, report, testimony.
All/Every 3956 in Strongs pas (pas) all, any, every, the whole.
Conclusion drawn from original language: In Jesus was life that lightens the way for man. Jesus’ life lightened the dimness/obscurity (unknown) of this life, but the dimness failed to understand the lighted way. The man named John (John the Baptist) came to testify/give evidence of the light made by Jesus’ life so that every man might believe. John was not the one who lighted the way with his life, but he was sent to testify to the light Jesus’ life gave to every man who’s come into the world.
This verse clearly teaches that Jesus came so ANYONE/EVERYONE could follow His light. If God does not see us differently prior to salvation (darkness), than He does after salvation (light), why use common visual references?
John 15:3 KJV “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (This KJV is readily understandable, so no contemporary translation is needed).
Now 2236 in Strongs hedista (hay’-dis-tah) with great pleasure, most very gladly
Clean 2513 in Strongs katharos (kath-ar-os’) lit or fig clean, clear, pure.
Word 3056 in Strongs logos (log’-os) the Divine Expression (ie Christ)
Spoken 2980 in Strongs laleo (lal-eh-o) to talk, to utter words, speak, tell
Conclusion drawn from the original language: With great pleasure God sees us as clean and pure through Christ who has been told to us. While clean isn’t limited to a visual application, visual is certainly among its applications, and this verse clearly states that God sees us as clean AFTER we accept Jesus.
Romans 3:20-22 NLT “For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it. But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in the same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.”
KJV: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.”
Justified 1344 in Strongs dikaioo (dik-ah-yo-o) to render just or innocent; free, be righteous
Sight 1799 in Strongs enopion (en-o-pee-on) in the face of, before, in the presence of.
Manifested 5319 in Strongs phaneroo (fan-er-o’-o) to render apparent, appear, shew (self)
Righteousness 1343 in Strongs dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay) root is 1342 dikaios (dik’-ah-yos) equitable in character or actions, by implication – innocent or holy, just or righteous.
Conclusion drawn from the original language: God sees no person as innocent for NO flesh is free from sin. But the holiness of God shows itself through faith in Jesus, for anyone who believes.
These verses clearly state that no one is ever made right in the face of God by merely keeping the law (human efforts deemed unworthy by God). God shows us how to appear just or innocent before Him through the Bible. When we accept Jesus as Savior, God sees us as innocent, holy, and righteous regardless of who we are. Again, so many visual references God uses to distinguish those who are saved from those who aren’t.
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Romans 7: 7-25 NIV verses 7 and 13: “Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil? Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the law which showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 13. But how can that be? Did the law which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So, we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s commandment for its own evil purposes.”
KJV verses 7 and 13: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. V.13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”
Known 1097 in Strongs ginosko ((ghin-oce-ko) to know, allow, be aware of, feel, perceive, understand
Sin 266 in Strongs hamartia (ham-ar-tee-ah)/from 264 hamartano; to miss the mark (so as to not share in the prize), to sin, offend, err, trespass
Appear 5316 in Strongs phaino (fahee-no) to lighten (shine), appear, seem, be seen
Conclusion from the original language: The law is not sinful, but it allows me to understand my sin, how I’m offending or trespassing. The law allows my offenses to be seen as the terrible things they really are.
This is another visual reference. Granted, the words showed/appear aren’t used from God’s perspective, but why would He want us to see our sins for the transgressions they are unless He sees them this way?
Ephesians 2:3 NLT “All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.”
(Interlinear Bible p. 907) from original Hebrew. “the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience. V.3 among whom we also all conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed of the flesh and of the understandings; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest.”
All 3956 in Strongs pas (pas) all, any, every, the whole
Conducted 390 in Strongs anastrepho (an-as-tref-o) to overturn, to busy oneself, remain, live, abide
Lust 1939 in Strongs epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-me-a) a longing (especially for what is forbidden), desire, lust
Nature 5449 in Strongs phusis (foo-sis) growth by germination or expansion. Vines p. 775: to bring forth or produce, signifying the natural powers of a person or thing.
Wrath 3709 in Strongs orge (or-gay) “desire as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind, a violent passion/ire, or justifiable abhorrence; by impl. punishment; anger, indignation, vengeance or wrath.”
Conclusion drawn from the original language: The context of the verse is Paul’s letter to Christian believers in Ephesus. So, the ‘all’ he references is the whole congregation of believers. He reminds them that, at one time, they busied themselves with the desires of the flesh and mind. Because of this, their evil nature brought forth or produced a justifiable abhorrence in God, just as the sin of those who remain sons of disobedience.
This is how God sees us prior to salvation: When we lived that way, in the flesh we were under God’s wrath because we were disobedient, but we no longer are under His wrath because of the righteousness Christ gives when we accept Him as Savior (see next entry).
Revelation 19:7-8 NLT “Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. V. 8. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen. (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God).”
KJV “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. V. 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
Wife 1135 in Strongs gune (goo-nay) a woman; specifically a wife.
Granted 1325 in Strongs didomi (did-o-mee) to give
Arrayed 4016 in Strongs periballo (per-ee-bal-lo) array, clothe, put on
Clean 2513 in Strongs katharos (kath-ar-os) clean, clear, pure
White 2986 in Strongs lampros (lampros) radiant, fig; magnificent or sumptuous in appearance, bright, clear, gorgeous, white.
Fine not in Strongs indicates a word was added by translators to facilitate understanding. Its definition to be understood contextually by adjectives clean and white.
Righteousness 1345 in Strongs dikaioma (dik-oh-yo-mah) from 1344 dikaioo, to render, show or regard as just or innocent.
Saints 40 in Strongs hagios (hag-ee-os) sacred (physically pure, mortally blameless, certified consecrated (make or declare sacred-online Dictionary).
Conclusion drawn from original language: And the wife of Christ (the church) was given clothes which were clean and pure, radiating magnificence, because the saints are regarded as innocent, sacred and mortally blameless.
This is how God sees His children once they receive Jesus as Savior because the church, is by definition, those saved by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is in stark contrast to the filthy menstrual rags described in Isaiah and the clothes soiled with excrement described in Zechariah. There is no mistaking that God sees us differently prior to and after salvation.
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In Summary: I’ve used scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments which clearly state that God sees two types of people in this world. There are those without the righteousness of Christ, those without salvation, whom God sees as filthy and unacceptable, those deserving of His wrath. Then, there are those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, those covered by the righteousness of Christ, whom God sees as pure and mortally blameless. If God does not see people differently prior to and after salvation, why does He use so many visual references in His word? Indeed, if He does not see us differently, why was Jesus’ death even necessary?
Thanks, sspiehs3, for the pic! Stunning work!