12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
Paul says we’re debtors—but not to the flesh. That old master doesn’t deserve my loyalty. It only led me toward death. I don’t owe sin anything. But I do owe Christ everything. Not to earn salvation, but because He paid the ultimate price to secure it. His death didn’t just cancel my debt—it transferred it. Now I live in joyful indebtedness to the One who gave me life.
And here’s the miracle: I’m not just a servant—I’m a son. The Spirit doesn’t just empower me to kill sin; He confirms my adoption. I’m led by Him, not driven by fear. I’m not working off a spiritual mortgage—I’m living in a house that grace built. And every act of obedience is a thank-you note to the One who rescued me.
APPLICATION
Today, I live as a debtor—not to sin, but to Christ. I owe Him my life, my breath, my eternity. And I don’t repay Him with guilt—I respond with gratitude. I walk by the Spirit because I’ve been adopted. I fight sin because I’ve been freed. I obey because I’ve been loved. That’s the kind of debt I want to carry—not one that crushes me, but one that lifts me. Because I know who paid the price. And I know who calls me son.