Orthodoxy Before Orthopraxy: Where Doctrine Meets Duty

If you’ve been hanging with us through the book of Colossians, you know our golden rule: Orthodoxy before Orthopraxy. Right thinking leads to right living. You have to believe right in order to behave right.

In the first two chapters of Colossians, Paul lays down the heavy doctrinal truths: Christ is preeminent, sufficient, and Lord of all. But as we enter chapter 3, he pivots. He moves from the doctrine we believe to the duty we are called to live out. Because here is the reality: Christian doctrine and Christian duty always go together.

Paul reminds the church who they are before he tells them what to do. In Colossians 3:12, he calls believers chosen, holy, and beloved.

• Chosen: Before you ever thought of God, He chose you. You didn’t have to perform to make the team; He picked you before the foundation of the world.
• Holy: You have been set apart to live a life completely redirected by God.
• Beloved: Simply put, you are called to be loved—agape love. You are loved unconditionally and sacrificially.

Getting Dressed for the Kingdom

If you’ve spent the whole day working in the yard or sweating at summer camp, you aren’t going to just throw clean clothes over a dirty body. You take off the old, dirty clothes, shower, and put on something fresh. Spiritually, we are called to do the same thing. Once we “put off” the old ways of the world, what do we “put on”?

Paul lists five specific characteristics that should mark a believer’s life:

1. Compassion: Having a heart that is willing to suffer with people.
2. Kindness: The action step of compassion; a friendly and helpful spirit.
3. Humility: Having an attitude of modesty. It’s realizing you don’t always have to be the center of the universe.
4. Meekness: This is not weakness. Meekness is power under control. It is showing restraint when your flesh wants to explode.
5. Patience: Taking a deep breath and being slow to anger.

These aren’t optional traits. They are the visible marks of a life that has been radically changed by Jesus Christ.

Bearing and Forgiving: The Messy Part of Family

How do these virtues actually play out in our daily lives? Paul tells us in verse 13: “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other…”

Let’s just be honest: you are going to get on people’s nerves, and people are going to get on your nerves. “Bearing with one another” literally means continually putting up with each other. It means looking at someone and saying, “I see your flaws, but I’m not going anywhere. I am choosing grace over irritation.”

And when that irritation turns into a genuine hurt, we are called to forgive. Here is what true forgiveness looks like:

• It means not keeping score. You don’t hold things over someone’s head to win an argument later.
• It means not defining someone by their worst moment. God didn’t reduce you down to your worst mistake, so we shouldn’t do that to others.
• It is often a process. Sometimes forgiveness isn’t instant. You might have to wake up every single day and say, “God, I am still hurt, but I choose to let this go again today.”
• It doesn’t mean a lack of boundaries. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is to forgive someone and then set a healthy boundary with wisdom. You aren’t excusing the hurt; you are just refusing to let it control your response.

Love is the Glue

There is no way we can bear with frustrating people or forgive deep hurts in our own strength. That’s why Paul tells us in verse 14: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Love is the glue. Without it, all the other virtues fall apart. It’s the unconditional, sacrificial love of Christ that empowers us to be humble, gentle, and forgiving. When we let that love lead, Paul says the peace of Christ will act as an “umpire” in our hearts, calling the shots and bringing an unshakeable calmness to our chaotic lives.

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for choosing me, setting me apart, and loving me unconditionally, even when I was unlovable. Help me to take off my old, selfish habits and put on Your compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Give me the strength to bear with the people who frustrate me and the grace to truly forgive the people who have hurt me. I don’t want to keep score anymore. Let Your love be the glue that holds my life and my relationships together, and let Your peace rule in my heart today like an umpire.

In Your holy name, Amen.

Is there someone in your life you need to bear with or forgive today? It’s not easy, but it’s exactly what we are called to do. Take a moment to ask God for the grace to stop keeping score, and share this post with someone who might need the reminder that they are chosen, holy, and beloved. Remember, whatever messy relationship or deep hurt you are navigating this week, at ONE Church, No ONE Walks Alone.