What does Romans 11:35 teach about God's grace being unearned? A Brief Look at the Context Paul’s train of thought from Romans 9–11 highlights God’s sovereign freedom in saving both Jews and Gentiles. He closes the section with a doxology (11:33-36), and right in the middle he asks a piercing question that unmasks every claim of human merit. The Key Verse “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” (Romans 11:35) • The question expects the answer, “No one.” • If no one has ever put God in his debt, every blessing we enjoy must come to us sheerly by grace. • The verse functions as the negative side of the gospel—there is nothing we can contribute—so that the positive side (God’s free gift) shines brighter. Grace Is Not a Transaction • Gifts are not wages; grace is not salary. • Any hint that we can place God under obligation contradicts the very definition of grace (Romans 4:4-5). • Gratitude, not entitlement, is the fitting response to everything God gives. Roots of the Rhetorical Question Paul echoes Job 41:11, “Who has given to Me first, that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” The all-sufficient Creator owes nothing to anyone; every creature depends entirely on Him. Harmony with the Rest of Scripture • Romans 3:24 — “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” • Ephesians 2:8-9 — Salvation is “not of yourselves… not by works, so that no one may boast.” • 1 Corinthians 4:7 — “What do you have that you did not receive?” • James 1:17 — “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” Together these passages lock arms with Romans 11:35, teaching that God’s generosity flows from His character, not our performance. Living in Light of Unearned Grace • Approach God with humble confidence—there is never a prerequisite payment to make. • Serve and give freely—good works are a thank-you note, not an invoice. • Rest from striving—Christ has already paid every debt we could never begin to cover. |
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