Statement of Faith
In order for Christian organizations to be eligible to receive funds from the Foundation, all potential grantees must subscribe to the SOMA Foundation Statement of Faith. No grant request will be considered unless this Statement of Faith is affirmed with signature.
(A) The Bible.
We believe that the Holy Bible, comprised of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, is the inspired and infallible Word of God, inerrant in the original manuscripts, transmitted to the present without corruption of any essential doctrine, and the only infallible rule for faith and conduct.
. . . from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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. 2 Timothy 3:15-17, NIV.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21, NIV
(B) God.
We believe there is only one God, the Almighty, immortal, sovereign Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe – glorious in His immutability, omnipotence, omniscience, goodness, holiness, righteousness, severity, love, mercy, grace, and wisdom – eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17, NIV
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” John 15:26, NIV
(C) Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. In the fullness of time, He took upon Himself man’s nature, yet without sin, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. His two distinct natures, that of deity and humanity, were inseparably joined in one person. He was crucified, died, and was buried. He arose from the dead, ascended into heaven where He sits at the Father’s right hand, the only Mediator between God and man, the only way of access into the Father’s presence, and will one day return to judge both the living and the dead.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14, NIV
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11, NIV
(D) The Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. He is the agent of regeneration, convicting sinners of their sin and empowering believers in Christ to live lives that glorify the Father and the Son through His indwelling presence.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior Titus 3:4-6, NIV
. . . Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14, NIV
(E) The Fall of Humanity into Sin.
We believe that man was created in the image of God and given dignity and dominion over the earth. Because of the rebellion against God by Adam and Eve, they lost their innocence, became physically mortal and corruptible, and spiritually dead in sin. Because they were the root of all mankind, their corrupted nature and guilt were passed on to all their succeeding posterity.
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:6-8, NIV
. . . the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men . . . Romans 5:18, NIV
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5, NIV
(F) Salvation.
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, apart from any works that man can or may do. The death of Christ Jesus was a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. Through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, the righteousness of God is credited to the believer in Christ, the believer's sins are forgiven and the believer is reconciled to God. This is the only way anyone can experience a saving relationship with God.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV
Jesus answered, –am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. –John 14:6, NIV –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, NIV
(G) Resurrection and Judgment. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. At the appointed time, God will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ, to whom the Father has given all power and judgment. Those who are saved will enjoy everlasting blessedness in the presence of God and His Christ; those who are lost will suffer everlasting punishment away from God's presence.
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son. John 5:22, NIV
–For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:31, NIV
. . . This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. . . . 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, NIV
(H) The Return of Christ Jesus.
We believe in the literal, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:30-31, NIV
Affirmation of Statement of Faith
I, the undersigned, affirm that I, in concert with other leadership members of our organization, have read, considered and agree with the Statement of Faith of the SOMA Foundation. I also affirm that our organization, or the part thereof that applied for these funds, operates in a manner consistent with the Statement of Faith.