Who does God see when He looks at a Christian?
When God looks upon a Christian, He sees Christ Jesus, not the individual believer in particular. The believer is seen as justified, sanctified, forgiven, baptized into the Body, and already glorified, though fellow man cannot see that glory. God alone sees the believer this way.
Les explains that when God looks upon the believer, He does not see Les Feldick or you in particular; He sees Christ Jesus. At salvation God accomplished on our behalf justification, sanctification, forgiveness, baptism into the Body, and glorification. Although believers do not walk around with a halo or an angelic presence, and fellow man cannot see this glory, God does. Les points to the Mount of Transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John saw Christ literally glorified, His clothing radiating heaven’s glory. Since God says we are glorified, we cannot see it on each other, but God sees it when He looks on us.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
More Questions
Can other people see that a Christian has been glorified?
A believer's glorification by God is invisible to other people—Christians do not display halos or angelic presences, and fellow humans cannot see this.
Why can God say believers are glorified even though they don't look glorified?
The reason God can regard believers as already glorified is that when He looks at a believer He sees Christ Jesus instead of the individual believer.
Does God already see believers as glorified, the same way He sees Christ?
God has already glorified believers, and He sees them as He sees Christ in all of His glory.