Theological Beliefs
I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. This is seen in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The Holy Spirit worked through authors of God’s choosing to pen words to the page, as the Scripture above states. The Bible began with God, and it was His divine inspiration that inspired the biblical authors.
God worked in the process of the creation of His Word from beginning to end. He is the writing source, even though the vessels He chose to work through were men. He purposed and prepared the writers of Scripture. I believe God worked through each unique personality to share His purposes and plans for the world in their humanity.
I believe in the dynamic theory of inspiration. The dynamic theory of inspiration accepts God worked by His Spirit to allow the authors their unique personalities in writing. I trust the Spirit of God worked with the human authors in a combined effort to write the text. Inspiration occurred with the original manuscripts but did not apply to the copies that have come forward from the originals. Scribes meticulously duplicated these copies, and though the copies are not divinely inspired, they are still inerrant. The copies received a level of inspiration because they copied them from the first manuscripts.
I believe the copies we have today are trustworthy. As followers of Christ, I have confidence that we can fully lean into the biblical copies we have for the foundation of our faith. We need not worry that only the autographs are inspired. In every way, the copies we have are the inerrant Word of God. The autographs give authority to the apographs, which give authority to the translations and the specific versions of the Bible we depend on for accuracy.
I believe in the full inerrancy view of Scripture. I agree that the religious, theological, and spiritual messages of Scripture are without error. I agree that the biblical authors’ scientific and historical information shows the human author’s understanding of the situations. For this reason, there may be discrepancies, but they are not to cause distrust in the Word of God. I believe as a result of the trustworthiness of the Scriptures, due to inspiration and inerrancy, we can rely on the Bible as God’s authority for our lives. God’s Word teaches us how to believe and how to behave. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” I believe the authority of the Scriptures expresses how I am to live as a follower of Christ. I believe the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to teach and guide me in all aspects of my life.
I believe there is only one living and true God. I believe he is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal being. I believe he is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is a personal God. He is a knowing, loving, good Father who can be approached and spoken to, though I believe God is infinite in holiness. We will not understand God’s vast greatness, but I believe we do have the opportunity to know God and be known by him through a relationship with Jesus. I believe we owe Him our love, reverence, and obedience. I believe God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
God is dependable. He will be the same today, tomorrow, and the next. In his faithfulness, we see his divine love, especially in sending Jesus to die for our sins. God’s love is the core of goodness, 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” His love extends to humanity, not because we have done anything to earn it, but because of his amazing grace.
In Scripture, we witness the truth of Jesus Christ as God’s Son. The Scriptures give a true account of His birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection. His life proved He was the Son of God, and the Old and New Testament collaborate this truth. God once dwelt with His people in the garden and then in the tabernacle. Still, only a Savior allowed humanity the blessing of dwelling with God once again because of their continued disobedience. The need for the future Messiah is more than evident throughout the Old Testament. Jesus is prophesied, and belief in His birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection restore sinful people to a Holy God. The prophecies of the Old Testament point to the coming Messiah. These prophecies are realized in Christ. The miracles of the New Testament also prove Jesus as Messiah.
I believe we have a future life with God. I also believe our future life with God depends on our understanding of sin. I believe that since the fall, human beings are sinful by nature. I believe we live in a world that is affected by sin and that there are forces at work in the world that persuades us to sin. Sin is a barrier that keeps us from God because he is holy. For sinful human beings to be in fellowship with God on earth through his Holy Spirit, as well as for eternity once this life ends, sin must be dealt with. Sin is a serious matter, and for those who dismiss the concept or shrug it off, it is important to provide the truth of sin and its devastating consequences. Sin affects humans’ relationship with God, their relationship with other human beings, and their own individual lives. This is why God sent Jesus to save us from sin. Jesus came to rescue humanity from the sin that came to the world through Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. By God’s grace, he works to bring humanity into fellowship with him. 1 Corinthians 15:22 says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” Belief in Christ removes the penalty of sin and brings forgiveness.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. I believe he enables people to understand the truth. I believe he convicts us of sin and leads us to righteousness. I believe he calls people to Jesus and cultivates Christian character as we rely on him in our lives. I believe he comforts us and bestows the spiritual gifts by which we serve God.
I believe the image of God is in every human being. I do not believe the image has been lost because of the fall. Instead, I believe God’s image is equally present in every person. Therefore, human beings should treat other human beings with dignity and respect. Each person has value and worth, whether they recognize God is at work in them and the world or not. Every life is significant. I believe every person is equal in their humanity, no matter race, ethnicity, or gender.
If you would like a more detailed explanation of my beliefs with specific Scriptures, I would be happy to e-mail you. Please request the information at connect@lauradgarry.com. Thank you!