I Beg to Differ.

[AntonelaMaria]

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

Yes, all the teachings that are at the core of Christian faith.

[Drakka Reader]

I actually do believe God would see us as individuals as well, it would be pretty hard to claim what a God sees, but I do have the chance to believe what I want. I believe that sins and the like are seen, alongside the negatives, otherwise he would never punish and teach people for doing sinful things.

In this way, I do beg to differ with the phrase, because so want to believe that there is more to being kind and good besides just believing God, that you are meant to learn things.

[Ebby Brown]

I would agree with the statement, "when God looks at us He sees Jesus ". Based on the book and the bible verses used, we received Grace because of Jesus; His love and mercy.

[ZettieOby]

I thinks what the author meant by ''when we are Christ'' is when we have forsaken all our sins, repented and asked for forgiveness, God no longer see our sins. He sees the cleansing blood of Jesus shed for the remission of our sins. So, yes when God sees His children what He sees is Jesus and the work of salvation done in us.

[AntonelaMaria]

I actually do believe God would see us as individuals as well, it would be pretty hard to claim what a God sees, but I do have the chance to believe what I want. I believe that sins and the like are seen, alongside the negatives, otherwise he would never punish and teach people for doing sinful things.

In this way, I do beg to differ with the phrase, because so want to believe that there is more to being kind and good besides just believing God, that you are meant to learn things.

I believe everything you said except this part about punishment. Imagine if God would punish us for our sins, where would we be and how would we live. I don't we could take it.

[Drakka Reader]

I actually do believe God would see us as individuals as well, it would be pretty hard to claim what a God sees, but I do have the chance to believe what I want. I believe that sins and the like are seen, alongside the negatives, otherwise he would never punish and teach people for doing sinful things.

In this way, I do beg to differ with the phrase, because so want to believe that there is more to being kind and good besides just believing God, that you are meant to learn things.

I believe everything you said except this part about punishment. Imagine if God would punish us for our sins, where would we be and how would we live. I don't we could take it.

I meant punish in say, trapped in a whale sort of way. A sort of teaching moment, not a "punished for all eternity" thing. Sorry if I was misunderstood.

[AntonelaMaria]

I actually do believe God would see us as individuals as well, it would be pretty hard to claim what a God sees, but I do have the chance to believe what I want. I believe that sins and the like are seen, alongside the negatives, otherwise he would never punish and teach people for doing sinful things.

In this way, I do beg to differ with the phrase, because so want to believe that there is more to being kind and good besides just believing God, that you are meant to learn things.

I believe everything you said except this part about punishment. Imagine if God would punish us for our sins, where would we be and how would we live. I don't we could take it.

I meant punish in say, trapped in a whale sort of way. A sort of teaching moment, not a "punished for all eternity" thing. Sorry if I was misunderstood.

No, it's okay my mistake. I do get your point!! To go on that subject I often have that conversation among friends. Where I always strongly urge them that they don't use that term. Saying "God Punished me"... I always try to point out that God is grace and God is mercy.

[Bhuvana Subramanyam]

Is this really an appropriate forum for a discussion on religion? I think not.

I feel the same. The information given by an inspirational book can be interpreted differently by different people. So, I think we should focus more on the inspiration the book carries with it.

[Abhi07]

As far as letting God lead, well I think I would get tired of the stench of my own sins in my nostrils and would have to let's someone else have the reigns.We are meant for perfection but in God's way and not our own. So in answer yes yes yes God most definitely sees us as individuals.

[Vicky-kooro]

God has a purpose for everyone and that we are meant for perfection in God's way and not our own. We don't hope we believe this is where the word Faith come in.

[Edwin Amah]

Well, God sees Jesus in us as believers because His blood was shed to cleanse us from all impurity. So Jesus rightly intercedes for us and that is Grace. So Yes, God sees Jesus in us because He stood the gap for us.

[Drakka Reader]

I believe everything you said except this part about punishment. Imagine if God would punish us for our sins, where would we be and how would we live. I don't we could take it.

I meant punish in say, trapped in a whale sort of way. A sort of teaching moment, not a "punished for all eternity" thing. Sorry if I was misunderstood.

No, it's okay my mistake. I do get your point!! To go on that subject I often have that conversation among friends. Where I always strongly urge them that they don't use that term. Saying "God Punished me"... I always try to point out that God is grace and God is mercy.

Oh, that's a good way to put it.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

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?

Definitely He sees his children as individuals. He knows all of their good and bad deeds, and try to correct them in individual basis

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Most definitely he sees us as individuals. It seems that this comes up a lot in my situation, people think that if God has our path laid out for us from the time that we are born, that we are but his puppet so they waste a lot of time rebelling. God definitely has a plan and a purpose for each of us as individuals. We are each a very unique creation but he gives us free will and some people believe that if they choose God then they are giving up that individuality and their freedom. This, and I state this emphatically, just isn't so. God does want us to be perfect and he loves us as no other and every day is an opportunity to change and strive for what God has allotted for us in this life and in Heaven.
Death,illness, accidents etc are learning experiences and trials that we must face. With faith these experiences are like day to night when faced without God's grace and guidance. I know that sounds like the company line but I am here to testify that it is the truth! Without God we think that we are handling things just fine but that is far from reality.
As far as letting God lead, well I think I would get tired of the stench of my own sins in my nostrils and would have to let's someone else have the reigns.We are meant for perfection but in God's way and not our own. So in answer yes yes yes God most definitely sees us as individuals.

You are given free will and with that you will do good as well as bad. So if you are not considered as individuals, how can He correct you?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Yes, God sees us as individuals. However, when He looks at us, He sees Jesus, and that is because Jesus died for our sins, past, present, and those we haven't even committed yet! The blood of Jesus covers us, so when God looks at us, He sees Jesus because we are in Christ and He is in us once we are saved. Jesus is sitting on the right hand of God interceding for us when we pray, so I believe that is what the author might have meant about God seeing Jesus when He looks at us. Another of the great mysteries of the Bible and God!

That may be true. But our deeds have their own values and God does see them all as well