The Greater Heritage is not affiliated with a specific Christian denomination however we are a community committed to the beliefs and doctrines of conservative evangelical Christianity within the Protestant tradition and hold to the core truths of scripture as outlined below. All of our contributors acknowledge the Basic Statement of Faith below.

The Bible

  • The Bible is the inspired Word of God and serves as the supreme and only (sola scriptura) authority and source regarding all matters of faith and divine revelation.
  • The Bible is infallible, complete, final and unchanging. It was written by men divinely inspired by God and as such it is God’s revelation to man.
  • It has been preserved through God’s sovereign care throughout history. While The Greater Heritage accepts other translations, our primary translation is the King James Version as it represents the majority text of scripture used throughout history.

The Triune God

  • There is only one enteral triune God who is manifested in three persons (hypostasis): The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • Each of the three persons of the trinity has distinct attributes but shares the same divine substance (homoousios) and there is no division between the three in terms of nature, essence or being.
  • God has always been and always will be. He is the sustainer and creator of the universe. He is perfect, sovereign, personal, infinite and is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.

Humanity and Creation

  • The universe was created out of nothing (Ex Nihilo) in six days with God resting from His work on the seventh day.
  • Man and woman were created in God’s image (Imago Dei) for His pleasure and to bring Him glory. Man’s purpose is to reverence God, keep His commandments and enjoy Him, others and creation through harmonious relationship.
  • However, because of Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden sin entered God’s creation as did death and man became unable to fulfill his original purposes.
  • Ever since and until God’s new creation is established man is born into the world in state of sin, moral depravity and separation from fellowship with God.
  • Without God’s intervention through salvation man cannot overcome the punishment for his sins which is eternal separation from God in hell upon physical death which is a result of God’s justice on man for his disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Nor can man fulfill all that God originally created him for or restore fellowship with God without spiritual regeneration through salvation in Jesus Christ.

Jesus

  • Jesus is the only eternal and begotten Son of God. He is fully man and fully God at one and the same time. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless and perfect life during His earthly ministry and He willingly went to the cross to be crucified as the only sacrifice to atone for the sins of all mankind.
  • By His death on the cross for the sins of all of mankind Jesus became our substitutionary atonement so that whoever believes on Him will be given eternal life and be restored to fellowship with God through the imputation of Jesus’ righteousness (justification) in each believer at the point of belief to salvation.
  • Jesus rose from the grave in a glorified body three days after being crucified and ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of God where He still resides. He will come again in glory and judgement and is the only Mediator between God and man.

Salvation

  • Salvation is the work of God by grace through faith alone (sola fide) in the person of Jesus Christ alone (sola Christus) Who was and is our substitute on the cross for our sins.
  • Because of man’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden sin entered creation and all men and women ever since have been born into bondage to sin and are unable on their own through any form of works or lifestyle to attain salvation or restore their relationship with God apart from His grace alone (sola gratia) and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
  • God’s process of salvation equally upholds His sovereignty and man’s free will. God is always the initiator in salvation as He draws all men to Him through the Holy Spirit however it is man’s responsibility to respond to God’s offer of salvation. Salvation is available freely to any and all who will believe and accept it.
  • Through God’s divine foreknowledge He knows all who will be saved and has predestinated and elected those who will be saved because He knows what each person will choose regarding salvation. However, man’s free will dictates that it is the responsibility of each and every individual to accept or deny God’s free offer of salvation which is available to any and all who choose to believe.
  • Belief through faith and repentance of sins in Jesus Christ is the only means by which men and woman can be saved from an eternal separation from God in hell and be restored to fellowship with Him both in this life and forever in heaven.
  • There is no specific prayer, work or method to attain salvation, only the willing and genuine intent of the individual to place their trust in Jesus through faith and believing in Him as their savior and by asking for forgiveness of their sins. At that moment the individual is regenerated and spiritually born again.
  • Once an individual believes in Jesus Christ and asks for forgiveness for their sins he or she is fully forgiven, has been given a home in heaven for all eternity and he or she’s soul is spiritually born again. Once saved (born again) an individual is a new creature indwelled by the Holy Spirit and the believer is now seen by God as righteous in His sight.  The believer is also kept saved and cannot ever lose his or her salvation for any reason because it is God who has regenerated the believer and keeps them always safe and secure in His hands forevermore.
  • While believers will still occasionally sin in this life, they are now able to worship, serve and know God through a restored relationship with Him and are always able to pray directly to God for forgiveness and guidance. Once saved man is at peace with God and is to enjoy and glorify Him in this life and forevermore in heaven and is able to now live as God had originally purposed him or her to live.

Christian Behavior

  • When an individual becomes a believer in Jesus Christ through the act of salvation he or she is set apart from the world as a new creature in Christ and is to allow the process of sanctification through the Holy Spirit’s work in them to aid them in becoming more like Him, which at its core means to love God and love people and grow in knowledge of God and Christlikeness.
  • Rather than adhering to self-imposed legalism, following God’s commands through obedience and application of scripture and His commands to be more like Him is done through the work of the Holy Spirit who lives in all believers upon salvation and is done out of a love and appreciation by the individual for what God has done for them.
  • While those who have been saved are new creatures they still live in the flesh and sin however this does not ever make them unsaved, but it does provide opportunities for repentance which is always freely offered by God.
  • All true believers in Christ through their changed heart and renewed mind should display inward and outward signs of regeneration by bearing spiritual fruit. While works in this way are not a means to salvation or are to be demonstrated in any way to keep salvation, they are a result of salvation as they exhibit a true change of heart and willingness to be more like God and know Him more.
  • Where matters of conduct and behavior do not have clear examples in scripture Christians are to examine their own hearts and pray for guidance. Therefore, in matters of conscience each believer is to choose what they deem to be most in accordance with God’s commands while also making sure to follow God’s commands that are clearly outlined in scripture.