Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death;

Wages are considered payment for services rendered. If you work for someone, they owe you. The idea of refusing payment here is not optional. You can refuse to believe that, but as one judge pointed out to me, ignorance of the law is no excuse. The principle exist whether you agree with it or not.

The procedure for paying back the wages of sin is ancient. Man has been trying to buy his life for thousands of years. In Hebrew history sin offerings were made daily. In pagan history human sacrifices were made. A fierce sense of debt is felt by even primitive man, even in ignorance of sin and the law.

Today many attach works to salvation, as if grace is insufficient to provide just payment for the debt man has incurred. Even non-believers believe they owe a debt. Billionaires give away millions to philanthropic endeavors to buy good will, not so much from God but mankind.

But if you debt is your life, what could you possibly pay to make restitution for your life? No amount of good works or money could possibly mean that much to the one you owe. How could you by your freedom?

Well you cannot. What you can do however is allow someone who has those kind of resources to buy your debt. Think of it as having your employment contract bought out and going into debt to another employer. One with better benefits and one who’s wages are life.

Romans 8:11-13 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.