Mukhanyo Theological College Statement Of Faith

STATEMENT OF FAITH

What We Believe

We the Mukhanyo community (members, directors, staff, and lectures) – in accordance with our individual faith commitments as expressed in our specific confessions: the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dordt), the Westminster Standards (Confessions of Faith, Larger Catechism, and Shorter Catechism), or the London Baptist Confession of Faith – heartily affirm and commit ourselves to uphold the well-known solas of biblical reformation as the guidelines and yardstick for our biblical teaching at this college:

APPLY

To God alone the Glory (Soli Deo Gloria)

We believe that the true end of human beings is to know, glorify and enjoy with their whole being the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the only God of heaven and earth, as He revealed Himself in the Bible.

Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)

We believe that the Bible, an inseparable unity of Old and New Testaments, is the infallible, completely trustworthy, and authoritative Word of God. The Bible alone is the final source and norm for the church, theology, and Christian living.

We believe that inspiration was the work in which God by His Spirit, through human writers, gave us His Word. The origin of Scripture is divine, though God utilised the distinctive personalities and literary styles of the writers whom He had chosen and prepared.

We believe the text of Scripture is to be interpreted by taking account of its literary forms and devices. We reject any treatment of the text or additional sources that leads to relativising, dehistorising, or discounting its teaching, or rejecting its claims to authorship.

We believe that all of Scripture finds its focus in Jesus Christ, who is the hermeneutical key to the correct understanding of every book of the Bible. God’s people are guided by the Holy Spirit’s illumination so that, although some biblical passages are difficult to understand, all believers are able to understand correctly by faithfully comparing Scripture with Scripture.

We believe it is the responsibility of the church to guard the Word of God, conveying it to future generations and proclaiming it to unbelievers, since the light of God’s Word will bring healing to the nations.

Christ Alone (Solus Christus)

We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and full man, born of the Virgin Mary, shed His blood as man’s substitutionary sacrifice, rose bodily and ascended to heaven, where He is presently exalted at the Father’s right hand and from where He will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and men. There are no other so-called mediators, be it living or dead, in heaven or on earth, through whom man can be reconciled to the living God. We believe that Christ alone is the Head of His body, the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Through His Spirit and Word, He reigns supremely in every aspect of the teaching, life and work of His church.

We believe that local churches are revelations of the universal body of Christ and should be faithful in word and deed to the only Head, Jesus Christ. This faithfulness should be manifested in their submission and obedience to His Word and Spirit alone. Thus all wielding of ecclesiastical authority should reflect the characteristic servanthood of our Lord Jesus Christ’s sovereign Headship.

By Faith Alone (Sola Fide)

We believe that it is not by any merit of man whatsoever, but only by true faith (i.e. faith originating from the powerful and sovereign working of the Holy Spirit with and through the Word of God), that man receives entrance into the Kingdom of God and all the blessings of eternal life within that Kingdom.

Because it is only by true faith that a person can enter the Kingdom of God, we believe – in accordance with Christ’s missionary command – that the church should go out and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to every person, calling him/her to faith and repentance as well as baptising and discipling those who have come to faith.

By Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)

We believe that, because in Adam all men sinned and have guilt imputed, all men are totally depraved and incapable of entering the Kingdom of God, unless they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Salvation thus is a sovereign gift by God’s grace alone. Through His grace alone God gives remission of sins, the imputation of Christ’s righteousness and the gift of eternal life is received by faith.

All members, directors of the board, and lecturers of Mukhanyo Theological College do heartily affirm and promise to uphold the doctrines of Scripture as stated above, which are explained in the above-mentioned confessions.

We promise not to teach or communicate anything contrary to these confessions, and in the event, there might arise doubts against us, we promise to submit ourselves willingly to an investigation by the Board of Directors. While under investigation, we promise to discontinue teaching or communicating the views in question.