We are a people saved by grace. Grace is the foundation of our salvation and our relationship with God. And grace is also the driving force behind how we live as followers of Christ. Romans 12:1-2 provides profound insight into how grace transforms our daily character, reshaping our thoughts, actions, and purpose.
The Foundation of Grace in Salvation
In a previous article we considered how grace is the beginning of salvation. As sinners, we cannot rely upon acts of righteousness to heal our broken relationship with God. God is not at liberty to ignore our sins and only pay attention to the good things that we do. In addition to that, a sense of self-righteousness causes us to fall into one of two traps: either pride or despair. Pride makes us feel superior to others, while despair crushes us under the weight of our shortcomings. Neither solves the problem of sin or leads to the abundant life that God intends for us. Our sin needs an answer – which we find in grace.
The Bible teaches us to rely on God’s grace. It is rooted in the saving work of Jesus Christ and not in our own efforts. It humbles us because the blessings of God flow from His mercy, and not our merit. At the same time, it lifts us, for we stand righteous before God through the perfection of Christ, even as we continue to struggle with sin.
In View of God’s Mercies
Paul writes in Romans 12:1 that our salvation, rooted in God’s mercy, compels us to live differently. We must ensure that the nature of our salvation informs the way in which we respond. We need ‘the how’ of our salvation to speak to our hearts in a way that directs our lives. Just like someone who just experienced a near miss on the highway might check their seatbelt, we need to let the truth of our salvation through grace, shape our actions and identity.
Paul makes this argument to Peter in Galatians 2. Peter was “not acting in line with the truth of the gospel” by limiting his interactions with gentile Christians. His actions were saying that to really be saved you not only needed Jesus, but also the Jewish law and customs. Paul’s response is resolute: “I do not set aside the grace of God!” The apostle Peter needed to be reminded of this, and so do we.
It is ‘in view of God’s mercies’ that Paul challenges the church to pursue a life of sacrifice and transformation. Paul has, rather painstakingly, laid out the nature of salvation throughout his letter to the Romans – that sinful man has been rescued by the work of Jesus. He concluded chapter 11 aksing: “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and to Him and through Him are all things.” God’s greatness in grace towards us is now the basis for how Paul will challenge us to live.
A Living Sacrifice
Paul’s call in Romans 12:1 is clear: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” The response to grace is a life wholly given to God. Unlike the physical sacrifices of the Old Testament, this is a living sacrifice—an ongoing, daily offering of our time, resources, and abilities for God’s glory. This is an uncomfortable call in a world that preaches freedom of the individual as the greatest good. Living this way means yielding our desires to God’s will.
The word used to describe our service is ‘spiritual’. It speaks of a depth beyond the physical and identifies a whole class of things that we put upon the altar. The word spiritual also can be taken as ‘rational’ – giving ourselves to God in this way is what makes sense! It’s not about repayment or earning favor, but about expressing gratitude. This kind of worship is both spiritual and rational. When we grasp the magnitude of God’s mercy—His willingness to sacrifice His Son for us—the true and proper response is overwhelming gratitude. This gratitude overflows into every aspect of our lives, transforming how we think, act, and relate to others.
Transformation Through Grace
In Romans 12:2, Paul explains what it looks like to live as a living sacrifice: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The world’s patterns—selfishness, greed, pride, and sin—are evident. Living by grace calls us to something higher.
Transformation involves a continual renewal of our minds. This renewal happens as we immerse ourselves in the truth of the gospel, allowing it to shape our perspective. The more we reflect on God’s grace, the more it transforms us. As Paul says, this transformation enables us to “test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” In other words, living by grace allows us to align our lives with God’s purposes and to experience His blessings.
Practical Applications of Grace
Striving to grow in this transformation is a lifelong calling. It is supported by discipleship, spiritual disciplines, and Christian fellowship. As we try and envision how grace begins to shape us, let me suggest four aspects of our lives that we might explore. Grace transforms our relationship with God, it changes how we view ourselves, how we understand the church, and the way in which we relate to others in the world.
Grace in Our View of God
John 3:16 reminds us of God’s incredible love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Understanding this love changes everything. God’s willingness to sacrifice so much for us shows how generous He is in His grace. The need for God to sacrifice His own perfect son reveals how serious he is about sin and how serious sin actually is.
When we grasp the depth of God’s love, we can only respond with praise and trust. His grace assures us that He cares deeply for us, enabling us to cast our worries on Him and live in peace.
Grace in Our View of Ourselves
Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches us that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”
Grace humbles us, reminding us that salvation is a gift, not something we’ve earned. This humility brings peace. When we stop striving for perfection, we can forgive ourselves for past mistakes and accept God’s love. Grace also motivates us to use our talents for God’s glory, knowing that our lives have purpose in His plan.
Grace in Our View of the Church
1 Peter 2:9-10 describes the church as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” The church is precious to God, purchased with the blood of Christ. This perspective challenges us to value and cherish the church as God does.
Loving the church means building it up through acts of service and encouraging fellow believers. It means fostering unity and prioritizing relationships within the body of Christ. When we love the church, we proclaim God’s praises to the world.
Grace in Our View of Others
1 Timothy 2:3-4 reveals God’s desire for all people to be saved. Grace compels us to see others as God sees them: valuable and loved. It motivates us to share the gospel and live as witnesses of Christ’s love.
Living by grace means extending love, patience, and forgiveness to others. It means choosing kindness even when it’s difficult, knowing that God’s grace has covered our own imperfections.
Living a Life of Gratitude
Grace transforms every area of our lives. It calls us to worship through service, to renew our minds through the gospel, and to love others as God loves us. The more we understand God’s grace, the more we’re drawn into deeper gratitude and obedience.
In the end, grace isn’t just a doctrine; it’s a way of life. It’s the reason that we can stand before God. It is the power of God behind our transformation, and the foundation of our hope. As we live by grace, may our lives become a living testimony to the goodness and mercy of our wonderful God.