Creeds and Confessions of faith are as old as Christianity itself. In the writings of Paul, we see creedal formulations¹ - indicating to us that even in Paul's day, it was necessary to write a summary of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. This confession is no different.

Like all confessions, the Africa Confession of Faith is for the purposes of instruction, assurance, defence, hope and unity. The confession is designed to instruct Christians, particularly African Christians in what Scripture says we are to believe, and how we are to live a life pleasing to God. This ought to give the believer a deep assurance of their faith and confidence in God. In a continent and an age that has been ravaged by Satanically empowered false gospels, false teachers, false apostles, false prophets and even false churches, this confession stands as a defence that the believer can use against those spiritual enemies. The Confession also serves to give the believer and the church hope that in the end, Christ wins! Lastly, this confession is meant to enhance unity. The most important unity is unity in the local church - this confession allows for Christians in the same church to agree on what they believe and live that out. It also allows for unity between churches since it is simply a summary of biblical Christianity.

It is our earnest prayer that this confession will encourage normal Christianity, particularly African Christianity. This confession is rooted in orthodoxy, grounded in historical Christianity (especially early African Christianity), respectful of our natural and spiritual ancestors, having a high view of Africans and African tribes, tongues and nations as equal image-bearers of God, and their siblings in Christ from every other tribe, tongue, race and nation as equal co-heirs with Christ.

We pray that the Holy Spirit would bring revival and renewal upon our beautiful continent, and that Africans would continue to unashamedly reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

All that is necessary for God's glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is given to us in the 66 books of the Bible, to which nothing at any time is to be added - whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or the traditions of men⁷.

The Bible is the inerrant², infallible³, clear and authoritative word of God⁴, which came from God⁵ through divinely inspired men⁶.

The Word of God is the true center of Christian unity⁸, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, councils and considerations should be tested⁹.

The entirety of Scripture centres on the person and work of Jesus Christ¹⁰, as well as our practical instruction for godliness as pilgrims and exiles in this world¹¹.

There is only one, true, living God¹², Yahweh¹³ - the Giver of life¹⁴, the Almighty Maker of heaven and earth¹⁵. He is ineffably holy¹⁶, glorious¹⁷, just¹⁸, true¹⁹, loving²⁰, infinite²¹, incomprehensible²², immutable²³, eternal²⁴, omnipotent²⁵, omniscient²⁶, omnipresent²⁷, omnibenevolent²⁸, sovereign²⁹, and working all things according to the counsel of His own will³⁰.

In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit³¹; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious functions in creation and redemption³².

God created man; male and female in His image³³ as the apex of His creation³⁴, for His glory. He created men and women for relationship with Himself³⁵, and to righteously govern the earth³⁶.

From creation to date, human beings from every culture, race, tribe and tongue are of equal value and worth³⁷, and are wonderfully laden with common grace³⁸ both as individuals and as entire cultures³⁹.

Man was created innocent and upright⁴⁰, and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice⁴¹.

By his free choice man sinned against God⁴², bringing in sin and death to all mankind⁴³. In this fallen state, man is helplessly inclined toward evil⁴⁴, hostile toward God⁴⁵, unwilling and unable to come to God⁴⁶, all while being under God's just and eternal death sentence for sin⁴⁷.

Although sinful man made himself enemies with God⁴⁸, God who is rich in mercy and grace⁴⁹, lovingly sought and saved man⁵⁰.

He did this by sending His Son⁵¹ Jesus Christ, to be the Mediator between God and man⁵². Jesus being fully God⁵³ was conceived of the Holy Spirit⁵⁴, born of the virgin Mary⁵⁵, and perfectly revealed and did the will of God⁵⁶. He took upon Himself human nature, yet was without sin⁵⁷, thereby having perfect righteousness.

By His substitutionary death⁵⁸, He made full atonement for our sins⁵⁹, and triumphed over all the powers of evil⁶⁰. The third day, He rose again⁶¹, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty⁶².

As God, and man, and sacrifice, He alone is qualified to be our compassionate Saviour and conquering King⁶³. He alone is our Great High priest⁶⁴, mediating⁶⁵ and interceding⁶⁶ for His people. He alone is our Prophet - perfectly communicating and being the Word of God⁶⁷.

All who turn away from their self-rule and sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone⁶⁸, are fully and eternally forgiven of their sins⁶⁹, receive eternal life⁷⁰, and have the perfect righteousness of Christ freely credited to them⁷¹. This brings us into a state of peace and favor with God⁷², making us His sons and temple, who joyfully come under Christ as our Lord, and secures every other blessing we need on earth and for eternity⁷³. We are not justified before God by doing good deeds, or by adding good deeds to our faith in Christ. We are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone⁷⁴, to the glory of God alone⁷⁵.

In salvation, God graciously calls⁷⁶, regenerates⁷⁷, justifies⁷⁸, adopts⁷⁹, sanctifies⁸⁰, and glorifies⁸¹ sinners. He does this in a manner that is consistent with the free agency of man⁸², and brings together all the means necessary for the end of their salvation⁸³. It is the infinitely wise, holy, and glorious display of God's goodness, ruling out any boasting on the part of the one who was saved, rather, demanding and promoting great humility from the formerly helpless, hopeless, hellbound sinner⁸⁴.

All true believers endure to the end⁸⁵. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit, will never be separated from the love of God, but shall persevere and be preserved to the end⁸⁶. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation⁸⁷, thereby grieving the Spirit⁸⁸, compromising their friendship with and comforts from God, and bringing reproach on the name of Christ, as well as bringing temporal judgments upon themselves⁸⁹. Even then, they shall never be abandoned in this life, and God will bring them safely home⁹⁰.

Sanctification is the process by which believers are made partakers of God's holiness⁹¹.

It is a progressive work that begins in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit⁹². Our growth in holiness happens through the ordinary means of the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer⁹³. Growing in Christlikeness will continue throughout the life of a truly regenerate person⁹⁴.

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society⁹⁵. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption⁹⁶.

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the holy channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race⁹⁷.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since they are both created in the image of God⁹⁸. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church⁹⁹. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, protect, serve and lead his family. He is to love his wife and live with her in an understanding way, since she is a daughter of the King¹⁰⁰. A wife is to willingly submit herself to the servant leadership of her husband, even as the church willingly submits herself to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God like her husband, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation¹⁰¹.

It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able to give their considered consent¹⁰²; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only other Christians¹⁰³ who are not their relatives¹⁰⁴. Therefore, those who profess true faith in Christ, should not marry unbelievers, those who profess a different faith, or those who have false faith - even if that faith falsely claims to be "christian", if it does not conform to sound, biblical, evangelical doctrine. Believers should not be unequally yoked¹⁰⁵ by marrying those who are not protestant/ evangelicals, have a wicked lifestyle, or maintain damnable heresy which leads people away from Christ¹⁰⁶.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord¹⁰⁷. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to protect, provide for, delight in, disciple and discipline them to make choices based on biblical truth¹⁰⁸. Children are to honor and obey their parents in the Lord¹⁰⁹.

A church of the Lord Jesus Christ¹¹⁰ is a congregation¹¹¹, composed of believers in Christ¹¹², who have covenanted with one another¹¹³ to gather regularly¹¹⁴, proclaim the gospel¹¹⁵, observe the ordinances¹¹⁶, be governed by God's Word¹¹⁷, exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Spirit and His Word¹¹⁸, and live as the family of God on earth¹¹⁹, as they advance the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth¹²⁰.

Every true church operates under the Lordship of Jesus Christ¹²¹, and the leadership of its own officials¹²². The qualifications, claims, and duties of church leadership are defined in Timothy and Titus ¹²³.

Church members are accountable to Christ, their leaders¹²⁴, and their fellow members¹²⁵. The Bible also speaks of the church as the universal Body of Christ, which includes all of the redeemed, over all ages, from every tribe, tongue, race, people, and nation¹²⁶.

Christ left his church only two ordinances - baptism¹²⁷ and the Lord's Supper¹²⁸.

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit¹²⁹. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, as well as the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and their resurrection to walk in newness of life¹³⁰. It is a happy testimony of the believer's faith in the final resurrection of the dead, and under ordinary circumstances, it is a prerequisite to the privilege the Lord's Supper¹³¹.

The Lord's Supper is an act of worship and fellowship, whereby members of a church through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, in a very real spiritual sense, by faith, experience and enjoy the presence of Christ, and are spiritually nourished by Him, as they remember His death for them, anticipate His return for them, and affirm their love for and unity with Christ, and one another¹³².

The first day of the week is the Lord's Day¹³³. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both in the public gathering with the local church, and in the believer's private affairs.

Outside of gathering with the church as commanded by the Lord on the Lord's Day¹³⁴, the rest of the days' activities should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Christ¹³⁵, and in line with Christian prudence¹³⁶.

Almighty God has commanded that whenever His church gathers on the Lord's Day, they are to sing the Word¹³⁷, pray the Word¹³⁸, read the Word¹³⁹, preach the Word¹⁴⁰, and see the Word in the ordinances¹⁴¹. The church's worship should be marked by reverence¹⁴², and the church's gathering should have the spiritual upbuilding of the believer as its primary goal¹⁴³.

Civil Government was instituted by God¹⁴⁴, and is by Divine appointment for the flourishing and good order of human society¹⁴⁵.

Government officials are to be prayed for¹⁴⁶, conscientiously honored, and obeyed. Christians are to obey the civil government, unless the government is commanding us to do what God forbids, or forbidding us from doing what God commands¹⁴⁷.

There is a real, unseen, spiritual world that has different spirits - rulers and authorities, also known as powers and principalities¹⁴⁸.

There are two, and only two opposing sides in the unseen heavenly realms - the kingdom of light¹⁴⁹ ruled by God, and the kingdom of darkness, ruled by Satan¹⁵⁰.

The kingdom of darkness is an organized¹⁵¹ enterprise of demons/ unclean spirits, ruled by Satan to blind the eyes of unbelievers¹⁵², wage war against the church¹⁵³, and promote worldliness¹⁵⁴ by raising lofty arguments against the knowledge of God¹⁵⁵.

A believer in Jesus Christ cannot be demon possessed, demonized, or have a demon attached to them¹⁵⁶ because they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Further to this, they are resisting and at war against Satan, and are seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms¹⁵⁷.

Witchcraft, divination, sorcery, casting spells, consulting mediums, and consulting the dead, are detestable to the Lord¹⁵⁸. Those who profess faith in Christ should not be involved in such occult practices, as it is a friendship with and dependence on Satan, rather than God.

Salvation is the ultimate freedom from Satan and the kingdom of darkness¹⁵⁹, thereby allowing the believer to live free¹⁶⁰, fearlessly¹⁶¹, and ferociously against the sin in them, the lies of the world around them, and the Devil who tempts them¹⁶².

While we are grateful to God for giving us our earthly tribes, tongues and ancestors¹⁶³, our most important ancestry is our spiritual ancestry. This ancestry is composed of all believers from all tongues, tribes and nations who came before us¹⁶⁴. Our earthly or spiritual ancestors are not mediators between us and God, as there is only One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus¹⁶⁵.

There is no such thing as generational curses¹⁶⁶. Sinful patterns of living can be learned and passed down from parents to children, and even passed down in entire communities, but it is not a generational curse¹⁶⁷. These sinful patterns change in any individual, family or community with the transformation that comes from salvation and sanctification¹⁶⁸.

The end of the world is approaching¹⁶⁹; on the last day¹⁷⁰, Christ will descend from heaven¹⁷¹, and the dead will be raised from the grave to final judgement¹⁷².

There will be a solemn separation in which unbelievers will be sent to endless, conscious, torment and punishment in hell forever, and the righteous will be given resurrected and glorified bodies¹⁷³. Those who truly trusted in Christ will receive their reward, and dwell in heaven with the Lord, forever¹⁷⁴.