So, once we know that God saves undeserving, helpless sinners by His grace alone through the work of Christ alone, how should we respond? Of course we should have faith in Him – but what does that really mean? And how should we live out that faith in everyday life, putting our faith not only into words but into practice?

Well of course if we trust in God we should be filled with love for God’s people (12:10). And that means honoring one another, respecting and celebrating the spiritual gifts that other Christians have, even if they are very different from our own (12:6). It also means using whatever gifts God has given to each of us to bless the whole body of Christ (12:4).

But if we have come to grips with just how unworthy we are to be saved and how helpless we are to save ourselves, our love will also overflow even to those who haven’t yet come to know Christ, even those who stand in opposition to Him, just as we ourselves once did. Truly trusting in God thus involves blessing those who persecute us (12:14), instead of repaying their evil deeds with our own wickedness (12:17).

Moreover, when trials and tribulations come our way, truly trusting in God means that instead of giving in to fear or despair, we will instead be patient, hoping in God as we pray for Him to save us, to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves (12:12).

So truly trusting God will always lead us to serve Him with fervent zeal (12:11). Indeed, Paul goes so far as to say that we should give God all we are and all we have, offering ourselves up as a living sacrifice to Him (12:1). For could there be any more reasonable response to such a great salvation?

Romans 12:1-21 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.