“When God looks at me, He doesn’t see me. He sees Christ in me.” This is a quite common statement among Christians that is repeated over and over. I have found through the years that whenever I or my staff teach someone they are righteous or holy in Christ, many respond with that idea. They simply struggle to believe they could be holy and righteous in Christ because of their struggles and sins. In other words, they just do not feel like it is true. I understand because that is where I was for many years, even after seminary. Let’s take a deep dive into a few Scriptures to untangle this.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) The “I” here is the person you were in Adam before salvation, an unholy, unrighteous sinner! That person was put to death on the cross with Jesus. So, you the sinner, are no longer alive! This does not mean that God obliterated you as a human nor your personality.
It goes on to say that Christ lives in you. This means He lives in you as a new creation who was created when Jesus was raised from the grave. So, when God the Father looks at you, He sees Jesus and He sees you. You are united with Christ. It is like dipping a tea bag into hot water. Though we call it “tea”, the reality is the water is still water and the tea molecules are still tea. Similarly, you are still you and Jesus is still Jesus, but you are united together.
When our Heavenly Father sees His children, He is not faking Himself out by just seeing Christ in us. He sees every bit of you and is pleased with what He sees! If this is not true, then let’s think of the implications. If God cannot look at you, then it means you are somehow not qualified for Him to view you. You are unacceptable to Him. You are even repulsive to Him. That is nonsense and not Scriptural.
Let’s settle this once and for all. He sees the beautiful you He created in Christ through your salvation. When we embrace the truth of this, we can enjoy Him and His love for us in a much more profound way. In fact, did you notice at the end of Galatians 2:20, it ends by proclaiming, who loves me and gave himself for me? He loves you and He likes you, not just Christ in you!
If you want to hear this explained even further, I urge you to attend our upcoming Freedom Conference. It is a Friday night and a Saturday morning and will be one of the best investments you will ever make in yourself and relationships!
