Eternal life is a gift from God. If it is a gift, then it is not something that we earn, nor something that must be paid back. Consider the foolishness of someone who receives a gift given out of love and then offers o pay for it. A gift cannot be purchased by the recipient. A more appropriate response to a loved one who offers a gift is graceful acceptance with gratitude, Our salvation is a gift of God, not something of our own doing (Eph. 2:8,9). He saved us because of His mercy, not because of any good hings that we have done (Titus 3:5). How much more we should accept with thanksgiving the gift that God has freely given us.