What does it mean that God sees believers as He sees Christ in glory?
Scripture teaches that God has already justified and glorified every believer, though no visible halo or angelic presence confirms it. When God looks upon a believer, He does not see that individual’s old identity; He sees Christ Jesus and Christ’s glory. This means the believer’s standing before God is entirely in Christ.
Les teaches that Romans 8:30 declares believers already glorified, just as they have been justified. Salvation included being justified, sanctified, forgiven, baptized into the Body, and glorified. Although believers do not walk around with a halo or angelic presence, and other people cannot see this glory, God does. Every time God looks upon the believer, He does not see that person in particular; He sees Christ Jesus. The Mount of Transfiguration gives a picture of Christ’s glory, when Peter, James, and John saw Him glorified and even His clothing radiated heaven’s glory. Because God says believers are glorified, He sees them as He sees Christ in all of His glory. Les also connects this to predestination: God in His foreknowledge knew the believer and chose us in Christ before anything was created.