We believe that Jesus Christ alone is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is before all things, the King of creation, the one Lord over the Church, and the only way to the Father.
Jesus is not one Lord among many. Nor is He one way among others by which we may come to God. He is the one-and-only bridge to link broken, sinful people with God, and is the exclusive source of our salvation and eternal life.
Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6) . Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12) .
[God] . . . raised [Jesus] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above every rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:19-23) .
We believe that the Bible is God's Word; is inspired by the Holy Spirit; and is the uniquely authoritative revelation of truth about God, His Son Jesus Christ, our own spiritual condition, and the new life to which God calls us.
The Bible is not subject to the spirit of the age. Nor can it be reduced to a series of adaptable faith principles for each new day. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are divinely authoritative across time and trustworthy in their entirety.
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4) .
[Jesus said] ". . . the Scripture cannot be broken . . ." (John 10:35) .
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work... For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (II Timothy 3:16-17; 4:3) .
We believe the Church is the body of Jesus Christ on earth. It is the worldwide fellowship of His disciples, gathered into local congregations, among whom God is glorified, over whom God rules, and through whom God makes Himself known.
No denomination may be equated with the Church. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is a human structure to serve God's kingdom within the Church and the world. Members of the true, invisible Church are called unceasingly to work for the peace, unity and purity of local congregations and denominations, so that visible Christian gatherings everywhere might faithfully and fully reveal the Lordship of Christ.
[Jesus said] ". . . I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one . . . May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you loved me" (John 17:22-23) .
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1-2).
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer . . . All the believers were one in heart and mind (Acts 2:42; 4:32).
As children of the bold God we believe that God calls us to holiness in every aspect of life. We affirm Scripture's teaching that sexuality is God's good gift, and that God has called us to fidelity in a covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, or to chastity in singleness.
God has graciously provided boundaries to govern human relationships, not to restrict or punish men and women, but to ensure the wholeness of individuals, families and communities. The teaching of Scripture is not made null and void by the shifting tides of cultural opinion. Adultery, promiscuity, polygamy, co-habitation and same-sex partnerships are inconsistent with God's design for men and women.
The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him . . ." The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh . . ." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame (Genesis 2:18-23-25).
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (Peter 1:15-16).
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
We believe that the Scriptures teach us that God has made us in His own image and that the sanctity of life should be respected. Life shall be valued from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.
We humbly affirm, confess and uphold this Confession of Faith this 16th day of October, 2001.
The session of Southport Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana.
