John Calvin Commentary Romans 11:35

"or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?" — Romans 11:35 (ASV)

Who has first given to him, etc. This is another reason by which God’s righteousness is most effectively defended against all the accusations of the ungodly: for if no one holds Him bound by their own merits, no one can justly argue with Him for not having received their reward, just as anyone who would compel another to do them good must necessarily bring forward those deeds by which they have deserved a reward. The meaning of Paul’s words, then, is this— “God cannot be charged with unrighteousness, unless it can be proved that He does not give to everyone their due. But it is evident that no one is deprived by Him of their right, since He is under obligation to no one; for who can boast of anything of their own by which they have deserved His favor?”

Now this is a remarkable passage, for we are taught here that it is not in our power to compel God by our good works to bestow salvation on us; rather, He anticipates the undeserving with His gratuitous goodness. But if we desire to make an honest examination, we will find not only that God is in no way a debtor to us, but also that we are all subject to His judgment—that we not only deserve no favor, but are worthy of eternal death. And Paul not only concludes that God owes us nothing on account of our corrupt and sinful nature; but he also denies that, even if a person were perfect, they could bring anything before God by which they could gain His favor; for as soon as a person begins to exist, they are already by the right of creation so indebted to their Maker that they have nothing of their own. Then we would try in vain to take from Him His own right, that He should not, as He pleases, freely determine concerning His own creatures, as though there were mutual debt and credit.