Statement of Faith

1. We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried. Therefore as to the doctrine of this church, it shall receive the Holy Bible as its authority in all matters of faith and life.

(a) By “the Holy Scriptures” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God.

(b) By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.

Source Scriptures: II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:130; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:6; I Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; and John 5:39.

2. We believe God has promised to providentially preserve His Word from the very beginning through all of time and will continue to do so; and due to the confusing multiplicity of Bible translations and versions that have in recent history come into existence in the English language, Regency will subscribe to only the King James Version (1611 or its equivalent – editions with spelling revisions) as its definition of the Holy Bible in the English language (believing that it has stood the test of time and is a sufficiently accurate and faithful translation to be called the infallible Word of God; that no translation is inspired in and of itself; rather, it derives its inspiration by fidelity to the true text of the original languages) and therefore will use it fundamentally in all areas of the church’s program.

Source Scriptures: Psalm 12:6-7; Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 59:21; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; I Peter 1:23; and II Timothy 3:16-17.

(a) Regency also recognizes that there are other authoritative translations of the Holy Bible in other languages which are to be used as well as others that are not to be used when dealing with non-English speaking peoples.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme rule of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Source Scriptures: Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; and II Corinthians 13:14.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.

Source Scriptures: John 14:16-17;; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; II Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:16; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2; and Romans 8:26-27.

(a) We believe that the gift of tongues, as cited in Mark 16, Acts 2, 10, 19, and I Corinthians 12-14, was indeed a ministry of the Holy Spirit to serve as a sign to Israel of the official change made by God from the Old Testament Jewish economy to the New Testament Church Age economy; and that therefore with the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (demonstrating God’s judgment on national Israel) and the completion and adequate distribution of the New Testament scriptures very soon after A.D. 100, there is no longer a need for or an occurrence of this ministry by the Holy Spirit during the Church Age. Therefore, Regency does not participate in the so-called practice of “speaking in tongues” or any other counterfeit demonstration of the sign gifts as is associated with the Pentecostal or Charismatic movement.

Source Scriptures: Mark 16:14-18; Acts 2:1-47; Acts 10:1-11:18; Acts 18:1-19:12; I Corinthians 13:8-12; I Corinthians 14:21-22.

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness–destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and to the judgment of an eternal justice in Hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.

Source Scriptures: Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; I Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; I Peter 5:8; Zechariah 1:3; I John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3-4; Revelation 12:10; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22; Revelation 13:13-14; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11, 16-20; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:10; and Matthew 25:41.

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary changes of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that the seven days of creation were literal solar days comparable if not directly the same as our present day twenty-four (24) hour day; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”

Source Scriptures: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:21-23; and Genesis 1:24.

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Source Scriptures: Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 5:12, 19; Romans 3:10-19; Ephesians 2:1, 3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:20, 23, 32; and Galatians 3:22.

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever or can ever be born of woman; and that He is the Son of God and God the Son.

Source Scriptures: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalm 27; Galatians 4:4; I John 5:20; and I Corinthians 15:47.

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience; and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable and compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour.

Source Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; John 3:16; John 10:18; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:12-15; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 53:4-7, 11-12; I John 2:2: I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3, 20; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24; and I Peter 3:18.

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that in the new birth the dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

Source Scriptures: John 1:12-13; John 3:3, 7-8; II Corinthians 5:17, 19; Luke 5:27; I John 5:1; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:30-33; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 5:9; Colossians 2:13; and Galatians 5:22.

We believe in God’s electing grace that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

Source Scriptures: I Thessalonians 1:14; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 10:13; Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1, 6-7; Revelation 22:17; John 3:15-16, 18, 36; John 5:40; John 6:37; Acts 2:38; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:10; and Ephesians 2:4-5.

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.

Source Scriptures: Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 4:18; Romans 5:9, 11; Romans 8:1; Titus 3:5-7; Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38.

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.

Source Scriptures: Acts 2:37-38; Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:9-11, 13; Psalm 51:1-4, 7; Isaiah 55:6-7; and Luke 12:8.

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated together by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we believe that the true mission of the church is found in the Great Comission; First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach the disciple to observe that which He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

Source Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20; Jude 3

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost by the authority of the local church to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine (grape juice), are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.

Source Scriptures: Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6, 16; Matthew 28:19; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; and I Corinthians 11:23-28.

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end, that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors, that a special Providence watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.

Source Scriptures: John 8:31-32, 35-39; John 10:28-29; Colossians 1:21; I John 2:19; Matthew 6:30; Matthew 13:19-21; Romans 8:23, 35-39; Psalm 121:3; Hebrews 1:14; I Peter 1:5; and Philippians 1:6.

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Source Scriptures: Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 1:17; Romans 6:16-18, 23; Romans 7:6; Proverbs 11:31; Proverbs 14:32; I Peter 4:18; I Corinthians 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; I John 3:7; Galatians 3:10; Luke 9:26; Luke 16:25; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21; and John 12:25.

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily “the third day according to the Scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven” — bodily, personally and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; “That the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.” This means that we believe in the pretribulational rapture of the saints and that at the end of the seven year tribulation Christ will return premillenially to set up his kingdom.

Source Scriptures: Matthew 24:27, 42; Matthew 25:13; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6, 9; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2, 4-6, 39, 51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9, 11; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 20:1-4, 6; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:9-10; Hebrews 8:1, 6; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 12:2; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; James 5:8; I Corinthians 15:25, 42-44, 51-52; Philippians 3:20-21; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:4-5; Isaiah 32:1; and Psalm 72:8.

The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to a local church

Source Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; and Romans 10:13-15.

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith. We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.

Source Scriptures: II Corinthians 8:7; I Corinthians 16:2; Acts 4:34-35; and Acts 4:37.

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made.

Source Scriptures: Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; and I John 3:17.

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God.

Source Scriptures: Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; and I Peter 2:13-14.

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman for as long as they both shall live. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.

Source Scriptures: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; I Corinthians 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; and Hebrews 13:4.

We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Although divorced and remarried persons may hold positions of service at Regency and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon.

Source Scriptures: Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; I Timothy 3:2, 12; and Titus 1:6.

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable.

Source Scriptures: Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 20:15-18; and Luke 1:44.

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other church members or the Church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another church member’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander.

Source Scriptures: I Corinthians 6:1-8 and Ephesians 4:31-32.