"Because of conflicts in our own conscience, we recognize that we are not perfect and attempt to exonerrate ourselves (instead of resting in The Lord's exonerration of us) in comparison to others by showing that we are not all THAT BAD."
This is an excellent point. It has been my desire in this forum and the other, to show believers that it's not what I think of you or what you think of me, or what we think of others or even the way we think of ourselves. But we have the mind of Christ ( His Word), 2 Cor 2:16. He wants us to know His thoughts, what He thinks about humanity, saved and lost, how He thinks about the Father, the Church, the World, the flesh, the Devil.....etc. "He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" 1Ti 2:4 not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which can only produce death. If I look out on humanity from the Tree I enter into a Rm 2:15 mentality: "in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience (which is depraved) bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" In other words, "I'm glad I'm not like that (wicked) one" or "I did nothing wrong". Much can be said said on this, but the point is, our learning to think like God according to His Word of Grace from Calvary's Tree, to focus on Christ and to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." It is vital to our spiritual growth to learn His thoughts, which are contrary to human reasoning and have no place in the study of His Word. In His eyes there are two groups of humanity: those who are dead in thier sins and those who are dead unto sin, He deals with each in different ways. To the lost He sends the Holy Spirit to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment Jn 16:8; and to the saved He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son Rm 8:29.
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh, this is not only a mandate but it reveals His mind to us. Flesh is flesh and 'in our flesh dwells no good thing" Rom 7:18, so why do we concern ourselves about somesones flesh or even our own. The King of Nenivah was like a Ben Laden, but God sent Jonah to him with a message of salvation, this is the Love , Mercy and Grace of God. There is no need to judge according to the flesh it all "stinketh" Jn 11:39, but "He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" 1Ti 2:4