Why is it important for Christians to understand Jesus as the life?

The importance of understanding Jesus as the life stems from His declaration in John 14:6, where He claims, 'I am the life.' This assertion means that the only life that God will accept is the life of Jesus Christ Himself. For Christians, this is not just a theological point but a foundational truth that impacts their relationship with God. When we say that Christ is our life, it emphasizes that our worthiness before God is based solely on His righteousness and not our flawed efforts.

Furthermore, Paul affirms this in Colossians 3:4, stating, 'When Christ, who is our life, shall appear…' Meaning all aspects of our spiritual existence stem from our union with Him. The implications are profound: if our life before God is rooted in Christ’s life, it's a call to depend wholly on Him rather than our own virtues or intentions. Recognizing this dependence liberates us from moralism and the false belief that we can earn God’s favor through our endeavors. Therefore, embracing Christ as the life leads to deeper assurance of our acceptance before God and motivates us to live out our faith authentically.