Doctrinal Statement
At Ashburton Presbyterian Church we believe...
The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God and is the only rule of faith and practice. Its authority does not depend on human belief or acceptance, but on God Himself who is its author. As such the Bible is to be believed, received and obeyed, because it is the Word of God.
God is spirit (infinite and eternal) and exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He created and sustains this universe by the power of His word, and he directs and governs all things so that His good purposes are accomplished.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God - fully God and fully man in two distinct but inseparable natures.
All humanity has sinned and falls short of God's perfect standard, and rightly falls under his condemnation.
We are not able to save ourselves; rather, salvation is entirely of God’s grace and is received by faith in Jesus Christ, whom God has appointed as the only way to be reconciled to Himself.
The salvation of men and women (from the judicial consequences and the power of sin) is through the perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, His atoning death, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His unchanging priesthood as He intercedes and rules for His people.
The Holy Spirit (the third person of the trinity) sovereignly works to make people new, to give understanding of truth, and to give them saving faith in Jesus Christ. He unites believers to Christ (and one another) and works in their lives giving them power to die to sin and live godly lives. He preserves them to the eternal Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ will return personally, gloriously and triumphantly. The dead will be raised bodily to be judged. Those that are found in Christ will enter into the life of eternal joy and peace in God's New Heaven and New Earth. Those who are outside of Christ will go to conscious eternal punishment.
We believe that God has established His church on earth, His holy family, which exists to glorify Him by humbly hearing and obeying His word. This obedience primarily consists in praise and thanksgiving, the joyful celebration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, building each other in the faith and taking the gospel to the world in word and deed.