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 (NASB)

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.