How did God see believers in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection?
God saw every true believer in Christ as He hung on the cross, in the grave, and in resurrection. Because believers were buried with Christ, they were also raised in newness of life. God reckoned the old Adamic nature crucified and declared it dead, though believers still wrestle with its influence in experience.
Les explains that God identified every true believer with Christ at the cross, in the grave, and in resurrection. As Christ was buried, we were buried; as He rose in resurrection power, we also are resurrected in newness of life. Paul then explains this from the believer's point of view: God has reckoned the old Adamic nature as crucified and declared it dead, but in experience it still influences us. Yet it is defeated and placed under subjection to the new nature that has come in by the power of God.