Title
"Magna Carta" or "Great Paper"
Introduction
Please note that the following Statement of Faith and Purpose is a work-in-progress, and will be updated from time-to-time.
Background
Work on 'The Magna Carta' (formerly known as 'The Belmont Confession' or 'Hill's Belmont Confession') started in 1998, during my second year of Theological Studies at Miracle Bible College (formerly known as the 'Life of Christ Bible Institute').
The original statement derived it's name from Belmont Park, Kraaifontein, where I was then stationed.
On the 1st of December 2010 the name was changed to "Magna Carta", Latin for "Great Paper".
Distinctives
Although labels are easily misunderstood, these are my distinguishing characteristics, providing a window into the truths that define me:
» I'm essentially reformed theologically, meaning (i) that I embrace and exult in the sovereignty of God over all things, and (ii) place the emphasis on the activity of God and the glory of God in the salvation of sinners.
» I'm reformational, meaning (i) that I praying for revival, and (ii) working for reform with regard to doctrine, worship, ministry, holiness, preaching, and teaching.
Foundational
Biblical Authority
» I'm a Biblicist, meaning I uphold and defend the Authority of Scripture [14], on the basis of it's own Internal Testimony (2 Tim. 3v15-17; 2 Pt. 1v20-21) and that it's Prophetic Fulfilment.
I, therefore, reject the Bhagavad Gita, Book of Mormon, Diamond Sutra, the Golden Verses of Pythagoras, Hávamál, Homeric Hymns, Quran, Theogony, Vedas, etc, as authoritative texts. Nor do I submit to Papal Authority and -Infallibility, Superiority Through Canonization; or any other contradictory Majority Opinion and/or Pseudo-Scientific Theory or Hypothesis.
Biblical Sufficiency
» I'm a Biblicist, meaning I uphold and defend the Sufficiency of Scripture.
Apostolic Authority
» I'm Apostolic, meaning I uphold and defend the teachings and practice of both, Christ's Apostles * and the early Apostolic Fathers **.
I, therefore, reject those doctrines derived from Paganism, including philosophical and mythological views of Egyptian and Greek origin, namely the doctrines of Universal Immortality [5] and Eternal Torment [4].
Theology Proper
or, "The Study of God"
I'm a Theologian, meaning I study the being, attributes and works of God, including the fields of Ecclesiology, Eschatology, Demonology, Psalmody, Sacramentology, Soteriology and Theology Proper; by Searching the Scriptures Daily (Acts 17v11) and Petitioning God for Understanding (Mt. 21v22).
The Godhead
» I'm a Trinitarian, meaning I uphold and defend the Doctrine of the Trinity (Trinitarianism), the Godhead consisting of the Jewish-Abrahamic/Christian Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit
» I'm a Continuationist, meaning I uphold and defend the Continuation of all the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit, including The Gift of Faith (1 Cor. 12v9); The Gift of Eternal Life (Jn. 10v28, 17v2; Rom. 6v23); The Gift of Knowledge; The Gift of Wisdom; The Gift of Helps and Servitude; The Gift of Administration; The Gift of Discernment; The Gift of Apostleship; The Gift of Evangelism; The Gift of Pastoring; The Gift of Teaching; The Gift of Prophecy; The Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues; and The Gift of Miraculous Powers.
I, therefore, reject Cessationism.
Biology
or, "The Study of the Origins of Life"
I'm a Biologist, meaning I study life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, development, distribution, and taxonomy.
The Creation of Earth
» I'm a Young Earth Creationist, meaning I uphold and defend Young Earth Creationism, including a Literal 6-Day Creation (as expressed in the Genesis Creation Narrative), and the Diversification of Species by means of Natural Selection [6].
I, therefore, reject Day-Age-Creationism, Progressive Creationism and Evolutionary Theories, like the Big Bang.
The Sanctity of Life
» I'm Pro-Life, meaning I uphold and defend the Sanctity of Life.
I, therefore, reject the practice of Abortion [7] and Eugenics.
Human Nature
Mortality and Immortality
» I'm a Conditionalist, meaning I uphold and defend the Doctrine of Conditional Immortality. (Rom. 2v7; 1 Tim. 6v16) [2|3]
I, therefore, reject the Doctrine of Universal Immortality and the Doctrine of Eternal Torment.
Hamartiology
or, "The Study of Sin"
Idolatry
» I'm an Iconoclast, meaning I uphold and defend Iconoclasm.
I, therefore, reject any form of Idolatry *** (Acts 4v12); including Iconography (Is. 40v18; Rom. 1v21-23; 2 Cor. 5v16).
Soteriology
or, "The Study of Salvation"
The Way of Salvation
» I'm a Traditional 5-Point Calvinist, meaning I uphold and defend the Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP) otherwise known as Monergism, including the doctrines of Total Depravity [8]; Unconditional Election [9]; Limited Atonement [10]; Irresistible Grace [11]; and Eternal Security (Is. 54v17; Mt. 24v24; Jn. 18v9; 2 Tim. 4v18; Heb. 10v39; 1 Jn. 2v19, 4v4, 5v4) [12]; as the result of God's Irrevocable Gifts and Calling (Rom. 11v29); His Faithfulness in completing the Work of Salvation (Philip. 1v6); our Spiritual Inheritance (Is. 54v17) in Rebirth (1 Jn. 5v4) and the Holy Spirit's Indwelling (Jn. 4v4).
I, therefore, reject both, Arminianism [13] and Pelagianism.
» I'm a Traditional 5-Solas Calvinist, meaning I uphold and defend the Five 'Solas' of the Protestant Reformation; including 'Sola Scriptura' (the Authority of Scripture Alone [14]), 'Sola Gratia' (Salvation by Grace Alone), 'Sola Fide' (Justification by Faith Alone), 'Sola Christus' (Christ Alone) and 'Sola Deo Gloria' (the Glory of God Alone).
I, therefore, reject as Neolegalism the Doctrine of Justification by Faith and Works.
The Effects of Salvation
» I am Born Again, meaning I passed through Spiritual Rebirth into a New Creature (2 Cor. 5v17); thereby inheriting Spiritually Enlightenment (Deut. 29v29; Mt.7v7-11; Lk. 11v9-13; Jn. 14v17, v26, 16v13-14, 18v37-38; Js. 1v5-7) to Knowledge and Understanding.
I, therefore, reject Ignorance (Hos. 4v6) as well as the establishment of Schools of the Bible, as needful to qualify those so called to ministry.
The Means of Salvation
» I'm Evangelistic, meaning I engage in Evangelism to people of other faiths, including Jews and Nominal (non-evangelical) Christians; namely Roman Catholics and Liberal Protestants.
Ecclesiology
or, "The Study of The Church"
The Church Universal
» I'm Ecclesiastical, meaning I form part of the Church Universal; comprising of the Saved; regardless of their Ethnicity (Is. 2v2, 11v10-11; Lk. 2v29-31; Acts 10v35, 15v17).
I, therefore, reject Denominationalism, Antisemitism and British Israelism.
Impassioned Orthodoxy
» I'm a Charismatic, meaning I'm Passionately Orthodox in Preaching, Prayer, Praise and Worship.
I, therefore, reject Spiritless Formality (Jer. 2v11-13).
Expository Preaching
» I'm an Expository Preacher, meaning I uphold and defend Expository Preaching.
I, therefore, reject Superficial Preaching.
Christian Judgement
I'm a Watchman, meaning I uphold and defend the Doctrine of Christian Judgement. (Mt. 18v15-17; Jn. 7v24; 1 Pt. 4v17; 1 Cor. 5v1-13) [15|16]
I, therefore, reject both Blind Submission (Mt.7v15-16; Acts 17v11; 1 Thess. 5v20-22; 1 Jn. 4v1) and Ecumenism.
Divine Calling
» I'm a 'Sent One', meaning I was sent into God's Field by Divine Calling, thereby being an Ambassador (2 Cor. 5v20) and Soldier.
I, therefore, reject as ministers, those 'Went Ones' who, more often than not, were neither saved nor called, regardless of their extra-biblical Ministerial Credentials.
Sacramentology
or, "The Study of Sacraments"
Baptism
» I'm a Baptist, meaning I uphold the Doctrine of Believer's Baptism (Credobaptism) (Mt. 28v19; Gal. 3v26-27; Col. 2v12).
I, therefore, reject the Doctrine of Infant Baptism (Paedobaptism), and in particular the Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration.
Thanatology
or, "The Study of Death"
The Intermediate State
» I'm a Psychopannychist, meaning I uphold and defend the Doctrine of Soul Sleep (Psychopannychism).
I, therefore, reject both, the Doctrine of Purgatory as well as the Doctrine of Particular Judgment, and in particular claims of Near-Death Experiences, culminating in out-of-body visitations to either Hell (see, To Hell and Back) and/or Heaven (see, To Heaven and Back).
Eschatology
or, "The Study of Final Things"
The Return of Christ
» I'm a Covenantal Replacementist, meaning I uphold and defend Replacementism; confirming God's Present Kingdom (Lk. 11v20, 17v20-21; Jn. 18v36; Heb. 12v28) and the Current Kingship of Christ (Mt. 16v28, 28v18; Mk. 9v1; Jn. 12v31).
I, therefore, reject any form of Supersessionism and/or Dispensationalism; including Chiliasm: the notion that Christ, at His First Coming, intended and failed to establish a Literal Messianic Kingdom on Earth); the notion that Christ's Kingship is yet future; and any attempt at distinguishing between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven as two separate entities.
Second Coming
» I'm an Adventist, meaning I patiently await Christ's Second Advent.
I, therefore, reject any form of prediction as to the date of Christ's Return.
Final Rapture
» I'm a Posttribulationist, meaning I expect a Posttribulational Rapture at Christ's Second Coming.
I, therefore, reject both a Pretribulational- and Midtribulational Rapture.
Final Judgement
Coming soon ...
Final Destruction
» I'm an Annihilationist, meaning I uphold and defend the Doctrine of Final Destruction (Annihilationism) [17], whereby the Wicked will inevitably be consumed, destroyed, and annihilated - altogether removed from existence. (Ps. 49v7-9; Ezek. 18v20; Mal. 4v1; Mk. 8v35-37; Jn. 3v14-16, v36; Rom. 2v12, 6v23; 1 Thess. 5v2-3; 2 Thes. 1v7-10, 2v10; Heb. 10v26-27; 2 Pt. 3v16; Jude 1v5)
I, therefore, reject the doctrines of Universal Immortality [5], Particular Judgment and Eternal Torment [4].
Sectology
or, "The Study of Sects"
I'm a Sectologist, meaning I study sectarian movements.
» I uphold and defend Biblical Christianity.
I, therefore, reject Secular Christianity, including the very liberal Apostolic Faith Mission in South Africa, Church of England in England, Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa and Roman Catholicism; as well as Freemasonry, Islam and Mormonism,
Political Science
or, "The Study of Politics"
I'm a Political Scientist, meaning I study the state, government and Politics.
» I'm a Democrat supporting Democracy.
I, therefore, reject both, Communism and Socialism.
Climatology
or, "The Study of Climate"
I'm a Climatologist, meaning I study weather conditions averaged over a period of time.
» I believe that CO2 does NOT drive Climate Change, and that Global Warming is a natural phenomenon. [1]
I, therefore, reject the notion of Man-Made Global Warming as pseudo-scientific. [1]
Conservation
I'm a Conservationist, meaning I believe in the Conservation of our Natural Resources.
I, therefore, reject the ruthless exploitation of our Natural Resources; particularly Water.
Footnotes
* Namely the 12 Apostles, including Andrew; Bartholomew, son of Talemai; James, son of Alphaeus; James, son of Zebedee; John; Matthew; Paul; Peter; Philip of Galilee; Simon the Zealot; Thaddeus and Thomas.
** Namely the Apostle John's students: Ignatius of Antioch (35/50-98/117) and Polycarp.
*** Worship rendered unto false gods, including Achamán, Ahura Mazdā (or Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hormazd and Aramazd), Aphroditē, Apollō, Arēs, Artemis, Athēna, Dēmētra, Dionysus, Eros, Hades, Hēphaistos, Hēra, Hērmēs, Hestia, Krishna, Lucifer (or Satan, Shayṭān, Iblis or Devil), Marduk, Odin, Poseidon, Ra, Shamash (or Šamaš), Sin (or Nanna), Zues, etc.
Bibliography
1. EJ Hill. Man-Made Global Warming (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
2. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Conditional Immortality (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
3. EJ Hill. Conditional Immortality Throughout History (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
4. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Eternal Torment (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
5. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Universal Immortality (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
6. EJ Hill. Natural Selection (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
7. EJ Hill. Abortion (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
8. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Total Depravity (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
9. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Unconditional Election (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
10. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Limited Atonement (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
11. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Irresistible Grace (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
12. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Eternal Security (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
13. EJ Hill. Arminianism (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
14. EJ Hill. The Authority of Scripture (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
15. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Christian Judgement (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
16. EJ Hill. Christian Judgement Throughout History (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
17. EJ Hill. The Doctrine of Final Destruction (Ejays; 16 November 2011)
Downloading
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Revisions
29.03.2008 / 07-09.09.2010 / 11.09.2010 / 13.09.2010 / 21.09.2010 / 24.09.2010 / 28.09.2010 / 30.09.2010 / 03.10.2010 / 07.10.2010 / 11.11.2010 / 01.12.2010 / 09.12.2010 / 03.03.2011 / 16.11.2011
