What does SOMA stand for?
The New Testament is filled with rich metaphors describing the countercultural community of people who have been transformed by the gospel of grace. One of the most frequent designations for this community is the Greek word Soma, which simply means “body.”
Rooted (College Ministry)
When thinking about the vision of Rooted (College Ministry), we take our cue from Jesus when he says,
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19 ESV
Our vision is that our college students would grow as mature disciples of Christ by becoming radical followers of Jesus, making disciples who make disciples, and boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus to the nations.
What We Believe
We believe in one God, the Creator of all things, who has purposed to redeem all things through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
We are a confessional church and so we embrace three ecumenical creeds:
Apostles’ Creed
Nicene Creed
Athanasian Creed
Though “doctrine” is often derided as intolerant and narrow-minded, this is simply our best attempt to arrange and describe what we believe to be the teaching of the Bible. We also hope this provides a clear articulation of the beliefs that ground and orient our church.
In addition to the following statement of faith, we find ourselves in general agreement with historic doctrinal confessions like The Apostle’s Creed, The Second London Confession, The Abstract of Principles, and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
We also affirm the foundational documents of The Gospel Coalition.
We believe that only the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, and therefore inerrant, Word of God. These books provide us with a perfect treasure of divine instruction and narrate God’s purpose in the creation of the world, His plan for salvation in Jesus, and the standard by which He will judge the world. The Bible is the true center of all Christian union and will remain to the end of the world.
We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. God is infinite, eternal, and perfect in beauty, holiness, goodness, truth and love. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that he will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of his name.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man, who became human without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He was sent by the Father to reveal God and redeem sinful humanity. He lived a sinless life and offered himself as a penal, substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. Through his vicarious death for sinners, he revealed God’s perfect love and upheld God’s perfect justice. He was vindicated by the Father through his literal, bodily resurrection from the dead. After being raised from the dead, he ascended into heaven and was seated at the Father’s right hand, where, as our high priest, he makes constant intercession for the saints. He is the only savior for the sins of the world.
We believe that humanity was originally created in the image of God, righteous and without sin, but through Adam’s disobedience the human race has fallen. Humans are therefore totally depraved — born subject both to imputed and inherent sin, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of God’s just wrath. Humans are unable to save themselves or contribute in any way to their acceptance before God.
The Gospel is the good news that Christ’s death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. The gospel is the end of all human pursuits for righteousness in that it announces that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved. God alone, because of his mercy and sovereign election, through the power of the Holy Spirit, awakens faith and repentance. Those who turn from sin and look to Christ alone for their righteousness are justified before God — having the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.
We believe the gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the means by which people are sanctified. Trusting Jesus as our only source of acceptance before God enables us to genuinely and joyfully do that which is pleasing to God. Through this gospel-empowered obedience, the Holy Spirit makes us progressively conformed to the image of Christ.
We believe that once salvation is obtained, it cannot be lost. Those who are truly redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
We believe that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are operational today. This includes signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts described in the New Testament. Though neither essential for salvation nor an indication of spiritual maturity, these gifts are designed to testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify the church to fulfill its calling and mission and therefore are to be earnestly desired and practiced.
We believe that the church is the primary instrument through which the triune God is fulfilling his redemptive purposes in the earth. The Church universal is made up of those throughout the earth, both living and dead, who have become genuine followers of Jesus. A visible church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated through covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the sacraments instituted by Jesus; exercising their Spirit apportioned gifts for God’s glory in relation to one another and the world. In the context of the church, God calls sinful men and women to live as the New Covenant community. The church demonstrates the reality of God’s kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel, pastoral care and leadership, and ministry to the poor and marginalized through sacrificial giving and practical service.
We believe that water baptism and the Eucharist are the two sacraments of the church to be observed until Christ’s return. They are a means of God’s sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. The sacraments are reserved for those who consciously place their faith in Jesus for their righteousness and become his disciples.
We believe in the literal second coming of Christ at the end of the age when He will return to the earth personally and visibly to consummate His kingdom. At this time, Christ will raise the dead from the grave and separate the righteous from the wicked. The wicked will be consigned to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy in fellowship with the triune God. This judgment will forever fix the final state of men in heaven or hell, on the principle of God’s just and holy judgment in Christ.
Response to the Gospel
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Justification
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Christ
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Humanity
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Upcoming Events
Join us Sunday December 24 at 6:00pm for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, where we quiet our hearts and minds in one of our most beautiful services of the year. We sing many of your favorite Christmas hymns and carols, reflect on Christ’s entry into our world, and illuminate our Sanctuary with candlelight as our pastor shares the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Join us Sunday December 24 at 6:00pm for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, where we quiet our hearts and minds in one of our most beautiful services of the year. We sing many of your favorite Christmas hymns and carols, reflect on Christ’s entry into our world, and illuminate our Sanctuary with candlelight as our pastor shares the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Join us Sunday December 24 at 6:00pm for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, where we quiet our hearts and minds in one of our most beautiful services of the year. We sing many of your favorite Christmas hymns and carols, reflect on Christ’s entry into our world, and illuminate our Sanctuary with candlelight as our pastor shares the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Join us Sunday December 24 at 6:00pm for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, where we quiet our hearts and minds in one of our most beautiful services of the year. We sing many of your favorite Christmas hymns and carols, reflect on Christ’s entry into our world, and illuminate our Sanctuary with candlelight as our pastor shares the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Join us Sunday December 24 at 6:00pm for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, where we quiet our hearts and minds in one of our most beautiful services of the year. We sing many of your favorite Christmas hymns and carols, reflect on Christ’s entry into our world, and illuminate our Sanctuary with candlelight as our pastor shares the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Dec 24 Fri 
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