I Beg to Differ.

[Katherine Smith]

I am not the most religious nor am I the best person to debate the meaning of God with on any topic. I think that God sees us as individuals with faults and sins, but when we accept Jesus in our lives those sins are washed away. I think that is what the author meant, but was unable to state it clearly in the book.

[Peyton4]

I am not the most religious nor am I the best person to debate the meaning of God with on any topic. I think that God sees us as individuals with faults and sins, but when we accept Jesus in our lives those sins are washed away. I think that is what the author meant, but was unable to state it clearly in the book.

I agree. I think it is easy to misinterpret "God sees us as perfect in Christ" as "God sees us as a bunch of Jesus clones".

[Amanda Nicole Newton]

I think it is presumptuous to claim knowledge of what God sees. We can only hope he accepts us with all our faults and shortcomings.

I agree. No one knows what God will see when he looks at us. He may see only Jesus, but I hope that instead he sees me and who I am. He created each of us, flaws and all, so why wouldn't he see us each individually?

[Barbie_sidhu]

I guess for God Jesus and individual is equal. Its not what we are that defines us but what deeds we do and how much do we belive in God’s grace.

[MorganKnightOfficial]

I believe that God sees us as individuals because of the fact that He sees Jesus' perfection in us.
Allow me to explain:
Yes, we do have sin, and we all have our vices and mistakes and imperfections. We are human, after all. But when Jesus died on that cross for our sins, all these things were made null and void, if, of course, we believe in Him and are willing to ask for forgiveness. This means that we are perfect, no matter our mistakes. My belief is, that for God, each of us is indeed perfect, but in a unique way: the same way that each flower is perfect, or each sunrise is perfect. We are all different, but because of the presence of God in our lives, we can be seen as being sculpted to perfection.

[tjportugal]

I like how the author defines Grace (undeserved kindness) and reveals how it affects us. But I beg to differ a little bit with the author’s sentiments in location 343, paragraph 2 where the author talks about how God views us as individuals. He says;

“To be in Christ means that when God looks at you, He doesn’t see all your sins, failures, and rough spots. When you are in Christ, God just sees Jesus. You may see the scars, the mess, and the problems, but God sees perfection in Jesus.”

I don’t know if I’m the one who got it wrong. Feel free to correct me. My issue comes in where the author says, God does not see our effects of imperfection, but He sees perfection in Jesus. I believe God is aware of all our sinful inclinations, and He wants us to change and become useful vessels in His service. To achieve that, He has used His word and His Holy Spirit to help us correct our weaknesses so that we can attain perfection/holiness. He provides comfort whenever we feel low, through the Bible, and give us the strength that will help us endure all our “rough spots.” For God to draw us closer to Christ, He chooses to look at the good in us despite our bad tendencies, failures, and trials. (Ref; Genesis 6:5, Psalms 51:5, Isaiah 48:17,18, 1 peter 1:14-16, 2 Corinthians 1:3,4, John 6:44, Psalms 103:12-14).

Does God only “see perfection in Jesus,” or is He also interested in us as individuals?

If God was only to see our imperfections, you couldn't define grace as "undeserved kindness", it would be deserved. I say that God also looks at our imperfections.

[Adeniyi+samson-]

If not because of the blood of Christ Jesus shield for us, we will have never been accepted or be looked upon by God. It's really a great sacrifice. Grace himself.

[shannonkate8]

I like how the author defines Grace (undeserved kindness) and reveals how it affects us. But I beg to differ a little bit with the author’s sentiments in location 343, paragraph 2 where the author talks about how God views us as individuals. He says;

“To be in Christ means that when God looks at you, He doesn’t see all your sins, failures, and rough spots. When you are in Christ, God just sees Jesus. You may see the scars, the mess, and the problems, but God sees perfection in Jesus.”

I don’t know if I’m the one who got it wrong. Feel free to correct me. My issue comes in where the author says, God does not see our effects of imperfection, but He sees perfection in Jesus. I believe God is aware of all our sinful inclinations, and He wants us to change and become useful vessels in His service. To achieve that, He has used His word and His Holy Spirit to help us correct our weaknesses so that we can attain perfection/holiness. He provides comfort whenever we feel low, through the Bible, and give us the strength that will help us endure all our “rough spots.” For God to draw us closer to Christ, He chooses to look at the good in us despite our bad tendencies, failures, and trials. (Ref; Genesis 6:5, Psalms 51:5, Isaiah 48:17,18, 1 peter 1:14-16, 2 Corinthians 1:3,4, John 6:44, Psalms 103:12-14).

Does God only “see perfection in Jesus,” or is He also interested in us as individuals?

I feel like I have to agree with you here. I feel like the Bible confirms this, however, as a scholar, I have seen many people twist the verses to conform to what they would like.
I love this "letter from God" where it seems to pull together many verses/quotes that affirm God knows us and accepts us as we are.
https://www.fathersloveletter.com/media-center.html

[Dragonsend]

God does see us as individuals and any view in opposition to that disregards many scriptural references throughout the Bible.

He does consider our sins and imperfections which is why Christ, The Lamb slain from the earth's foundation, was crucified and resurrected to make way for converted, faithful and obedient followers (once dead in sins) to have an abundant life, now and forever (eternally).

The first disciples of Christ with whom He worked in His earthly ministry were 12 individuals. Each had his life and we have passages that do show Christ rebuking and correcting them for the lack of faith, understanding and strength to pray, at different times and not continually, of course because He requires that we grow spiritually and change to be more and more like Him (Christ).

The Bible itself contains these truths and if you go through the 4 Gospels by yourself, you'd see how Christ relates to us and that He is the "I AM" the One who is mentioned in the Old Testament which is why in the New Testament, now in flesh, He says that whoever has seen Him has seen The Heavenly Father.

Christ was and is, the exact representation of The Heavenly Father.

He does consider our sins and imperfections which is why Christ, The Lamb slain from the earth's foundation, was crucified and resurrected to make way for converted, faithful and obedient followers (once dead in sins) to have an abundant life, now and forever (eternally). I am so happy that you brought this up grace is a gift for all and if we squander this gift our blessings will be hindered.

[AntonelaMaria]

I am not the most religious nor am I the best person to debate the meaning of God with on any topic. I think that God sees us as individuals with faults and sins, but when we accept Jesus in our lives those sins are washed away. I think that is what the author meant, but was unable to state it clearly in the book.

I think you debate quite well. Anyway, I see here a bunch of readers debating effect on the book on them. It seems that only scholars are "perfect " choices to discuss this but we all can have opinions. I love to read everyone's thoughts especially form both religious and others that are not.

[AntonelaMaria]

I like how the author defines Grace (undeserved kindness) and reveals how it affects us. But I beg to differ a little bit with the author’s sentiments in location 343, paragraph 2 where the author talks about how God views us as individuals. He says;

“To be in Christ means that when God looks at you, He doesn’t see all your sins, failures, and rough spots. When you are in Christ, God just sees Jesus. You may see the scars, the mess, and the problems, but God sees perfection in Jesus.”

I don’t know if I’m the one who got it wrong. Feel free to correct me. My issue comes in where the author says, God does not see our effects of imperfection, but He sees perfection in Jesus. I believe God is aware of all our sinful inclinations, and He wants us to change and become useful vessels in His service. To achieve that, He has used His word and His Holy Spirit to help us correct our weaknesses so that we can attain perfection/holiness. He provides comfort whenever we feel low, through the Bible, and give us the strength that will help us endure all our “rough spots.” For God to draw us closer to Christ, He chooses to look at the good in us despite our bad tendencies, failures, and trials. (Ref; Genesis 6:5, Psalms 51:5, Isaiah 48:17,18, 1 peter 1:14-16, 2 Corinthians 1:3,4, John 6:44, Psalms 103:12-14).

Does God only “see perfection in Jesus,” or is He also interested in us as individuals?

If God was only to see our imperfections, you couldn't define grace as "undeserved kindness", it would be deserved. I say that God also looks at our imperfections.

Or even more so he is aware of our imperfections. Because we are humans and are full of them. Because only God is perfection.

[Faithful Oso]

I think what the author was trying to say when he said '' when God looks at us he sees Jesus'' simply means when God looks down at us in our sinful and unrepentant stage, He sees the blood of Jesus, his son that went to the cross to die for our sins. That's where the saying ''the Blood of Jesus avails for us '' comes in.

[Gathoni1991]

I think God sees us as unique individuals, that is why everyone plays a specific role in the kingdom.

[Faithful Oso]

I think what the author was trying to say is that anytime God looks at us, he sees Jesus, his undying love that made him surrender himself as the sacrifical lamb on the cross of calvary

[FaithMO19]

I totally agree with you on this one. I think God does see our flaws and imperfections but his love for us is so profound that he chooses to overlook these flaws and help us become better individuals through the help of his holy spirit. I think Jesus' role in this is that he intercedes for us and it's because of his death that we can boldly go into the presence of God and seek forgiveness. Jesus is the door that links us to God.