Beliefs

• The Scriptures Inspired

  The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are the only inspired and infallible Word of God as originally written, and is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2Tim 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

• The One True God

  God is Spirit, existing in the person of the Father, revealed to man in the person of Jesus, and resident in believers in the person of the Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; Matt 3:16-17; Matt 28:19; John 4:24; 8:18-19, 10:30-33, 14:31; 1Cor 6:19)

• The Deity of Jesus Christ

  The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35).

b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).

d. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).

f. His ascension into Heaven where He is now our High Priest and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10, Heb. 4:14-16).

g. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

• The Holy Spirit

  We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin; that He is the agent of the New Birth; and that He indwells, seals, sanctifies, teaches, and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ. He also fills and empowers those who ask and believe. (John 14:16-17; John 16:7-11; Matt 28:19; John 3:5; Eph 1:13-14; Acts 1:8; Eph 5:18; Luke 11:13)

• The Devil

  We believe n the reality and personality of Satan, known also as the Devil; and that he is god of this world, the enemy of God and men, and that he is destined to the judgment of the lake of fire. (Matt 4:1-11; Rev 12:9; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10)

• The Fall of Man

  We believe man was created in the image of God; that he voluntarily sinned, resulting in both a physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God; that all men are sinners by nature and by choice. (Gen 1:26-27; Gen 3:1-7; Rom 3:10-12,23; Rom 5:12,19; Rom 7:14-24; James 1:13-15)T

• The Salvation of Man

  We believe that Jesus Christ Died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. Salvation is of God’s grace alone, apart from works, and that all who receive by faith Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are born of the Spirit of God, and thereby become children of God. (1Cor 15:3-4; Rom 3:22-25; 2Cor 5:21 Eph 2:8-9; John 1:12-13; John 3:3-6; Rom 10:9-10)

• Conditions to Salvation

  Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).

• The Evidences of Salvation:

  The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

• Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that God has created mankind in His image (Imago Dei) and that human life begins at conception. God, in his infinite sovereignty, uniquely formed human beings and gave them a special dignity, personal freedom, and individual accountability among all the works of creation. Human beings have been made for relationship with God and to be good and faithful stewards of creation. God created each person’s inmost being, knitting each person together in his mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13). As God’s individualized and personal creation, each person is fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14). God has ordained all the days of each person’s life before they came to be. (Psalm 139:16).

Based on Holy Scripture and the constant moral teaching of the universal Church, we believe:

a. From the moment of conception until natural death, every human life is sacred because every human life has been created by God, in His image and likeness.

b. From the moment of conception, every human life must be recognized, respected, and protected as having the rights of a person and the inviolable right to life.

c. The right to life and physical integrity of every unborn human life is inviolable — it is not a concession made by society or the state, but is instead inherent to the unborn human life by virtue of its creation in the image of God.

d. Because human life begins at the moment of conception, it is against our religious and moral conviction to formally or materially cooperate in the termination of unborn human life.

e. We are strongly committed to the preservation and defense of unborn human life, which compels our religious, moral, and ethical duty to defend unborn human life from destruction, whether by surgical abortion or use of drugs, devices, or services that have the intent, design, effect, or risk of terminating unborn human life or preventing its implantation and growth post-conception.

f. The Church and all her ministers and ministries should publicly witness to society and to the state regarding the intrinsic, inherent, and inviolable dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death.

g. (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 25:21-22, Exodus 20:13, Psalm 22:9-10, Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 44:1-2, Isaiah 49:5, Job 10:8-12, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Luke 1:39-45)

• Marriage and Human Sexuality

We are committed to the home and family as set forth in Holy Scripture. We believe God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. The Bible sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children. It is our firm conviction that we uphold the dignity of each individual as we embrace the unchanging and longstanding principles of scriptural truth

Based on Holy Scripture and the constant moral teaching of the universal Church, we believe:

a. Marriage – Clarendon Congregational Church defines marriage as the permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5-9, Ephesians 5:31-33)

b. Sexual Immorality — Clarendon Congregational Church believes that sexual acts outside marriage are prohibited as sinful. Consequently, Clarendon Congregational Church members must resist and refrain from any and all sexual acts outside marriage — including but not limited to adultery, fornication, incest, zoophilia, pornography, prostitution, masturbation, voyeurism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, sologamy, or same-sex sexual acts. (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus 20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 5:27-28, Matthew 15:19, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:5)

c. Sexual Identity — Clarendon Congregational Church believes that God created mankind in His image: male (man) and female (woman), sexually different but with equal personal dignity. Consequently, Clarendon Congregational Church members must affirm their biological sex and refrain from any and all attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with their predominant biological sex — including but not limited to elective sexreassignment, transvestite, transgender, or non-binary “genderqueer” acts or conduct. (Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

d. Sexual Orientation — Clarendon Congregational Church believes that God created and ordered human sexuality to the permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of man and woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. Consequently, Clarendon Congregational Church members must affirm the sexual complementarity of man and woman and resist any and all same-sex sexual attractions and refrain from any and all same-sex sexual acts or conduct, which are intrinsically disordered. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-9, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2)

e. Sexual Redemption — Clarendon Congregational Church believes that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and should seek redemption through confession, repentance, baptism, and faith in Jesus Christ. Consequently, Clarendon Congregational Church members must welcome and treat with respect, compassion, and sensitivity all who experience same-sex attractions or confess sexually immoral acts but are committed to resisting sexual temptation, refraining from sexual immorality, and conforming their behavior to Clarendon Congregational Church ‘s Statement of Faith. (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-10, I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16)

f. Celibacy — Clarendon Congregational Church believes that Holy Scripture grants two life-enhancing options for human sexual behavior: (1) the conjugal “one flesh” marital union of one man and one woman, and (2) celibacy. Either is a gift from God, given as He wills for His glory and the good of those who receive and rejoice in His gift to them. Celibacy and faithful singleness is to be celebrated and affirmed within the Clarendon Congregational Church. (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-8; Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 12:10; 1 Timothy 5:1-2)

g. (Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Genesis 19:5-10, Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus 20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Judges 19:22-24, Matthew 5:27-28, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5-9, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 5:25-27, Ephesians 5:31, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Timothy 1:8-10, Jude 1:7, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2)

• The Ordinances of the Church

  We believe there are two Church Ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt 3:16; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4; 1 Cor 11:3-29;).

a. Baptism is the immersion of believers in water, showing forth the believer’s identification in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

b. The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements–bread and the fruit of the vine–is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”

• Sanctification

  We believe that the appropriate response to faith in Jesus Christ will promote Godly living, and that all believers are called to live a life that is separated to God which can be achieved as long as they remain in Christ and are continually being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Rom 12:1-2; 1John 2:15-17; Eph 2:10; 1John 2:3-6; John 15:4-10; Gal 5:15-16; Eph 5:18)

• The Church and its’ Mission

  We believe the Church is the living spiritual body of believers, of which Christ is the head, the habitation of God through His Spirit and of which all regenerated persons are members. (Eph 1:5-14; 2Thess 1:12; Col 1:18; 1Tim 2:4; Matt 28:18-20)

  Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son the priority reason-for-being of The Brick Church as part of the Church is:

1. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16).

2. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).

3. To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).

• Divine Healing

  Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness (mental; physical; spiritual) is provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).

• The Blessed Hope

  We believe in the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. This is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church ( I Thessalonians 4: 16, 17; Romans 8: 23; Titus 2: 13; I Corinthians 15: 51, 52 ).

• The Millennial Reign of Christ

  We believe the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to rule on the earth for a thousands years. The millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and establish universal peace ( Zechariah 14: 5; Matthew 24: 27, 30; Revelation 1: 7; 19: 11 – 24; 20: 1 – 6; Romans 11: 26, 27; Isaiah 11: 6 – 9; Micah 4: 3, 4 ).

• The Final Judgment

  There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

• The New Heavens and The New Earth

  The earth is not our home, for we are aliens and strangers. “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11, 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22).