Why is it important to understand imputation in the context of salvation?

Imputation is the act of God counting the sins of His people against Christ and crediting Christ's righteousness to them. Romans 5:12-19 elaborates on this principle, showing that just as sin was imputed to all through Adam’s disobedience, so righteousness is imputed to believers through Christ's obedience. This legal standing before God—a result of imputation—means that when God looks at the believer, He sees them as righteous because of Christ. This understanding is vital for assurance of salvation, as it solidifies the believer's position in Christ and highlights the grace of God in bringing justification to those who believe.