My360 Helper


The Debt We Could Not Pay

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D. Leading the Way

Read Romans 6:19-23.

Each soul has inherited a spiritual debt from our first parents. It’s in our genes, in our DNA. We have all inherited an eternal death sentence and only confirm its justice through our clear rebellion against our holy God, and the consequence of our sin is death (see Romans 6:23). If this were the end of the story, I would be hopelessly depressed. But thank God, it’s not. Although we owe a debt that could never be satisfied by our good works, good conduct, or best effort, God sent His Son. On the cross, Jesus shed His divine blood to ransom all who come to Him in repentance and faith.

No one forced Jesus to go to Calvary—not Judas for money, not the priests out of envy, not Pilate out of cowardice. God the Father delivered Him out of His love. Jesus went voluntarily out of love for you and for me—love for all who name the name of the only Savior and Lord. Only the perfect, sinless Son of God could redeem imperfect, sinful people. He was sinless in His nature, character, and conduct.

On the cross, Jesus atoned for our sins—He satisfied the justice of the Father (see Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). God is a righteous, holy, perfect God, and He demands perfection of His creation. But none can obey perfectly, so we owe an insurmountable spiritual debt. The natural consequence of our inability to pay that spiritual debt is judgment and wrath.

Preachers avoid the subject of the wrath of God because the moment wrath is mentioned, people think of someone who is out of control, malicious, and vindictive. But God’s wrath is never vindictive and always predictable. It is provoked by evil alone. And while God’s wrath demands judgment for sin, His love satisfied that justice through the gift of Jesus. His love provided a means of atonement—a free gift of grace for all who receive it in faith.

At Calvary, Jesus both satisfied God’s justice and redeemed us from our slavery to sin. Every one of us is born enslaved to sin, and everyone needs to be set free. Redemption by the cross means that freedom from sin is yours if you ask for it. Jesus has broken the chains of sin and made us free not to sin. May we live in the freedom that Christ has secured through His precious blood.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for paying my infinite spiritual debt on the cross and setting me free from sin. Empower me by Your Spirit to live righteously for You and Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon The Cross: It Was…It Is…It Always Will Be, Part 2: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.

More Posts by Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.:

  1. Asking for God’s Vision
  2. Praying the Will of God
  3. He Can Open Your Eyes
View All


Email Sign-up

Sign up for the TWR360 Newsletter

Access updates, news, Biblical teaching and inspirational messages from powerful Christian voices.

Thank you for signing up to receive updates from TWR360.

Required information missing

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy & Terms of Use apply.