Upendo Gospel Community Church stands in the tradition of Churches that have been called Particular Baptist, or Strict & Particular Baptist, and are often referred to as Reformed Baptist. Our doctrinal roots go back to the 1689 Baptist Confession. This Confession of Faith is very, very similar to the Westminster Confession of the Presbyterian Church (1646). This was a document of the Puritans and was greatly influenced by Calvin and the Reformation. This is why we are happy to be called ‘Reformed’ Baptists. We rejoice in what God did in reforming the church in the 16th century through men like John Calvin. We do not believe that “the church of today has come of age and is discovering new doctrines”. The new doctrines are usually the old heresies dressed up. God has always had His people in the world and we believe that doctrinal maturity was achieved in the Reformation and Puritan periods of the history of the church, the 16th and 17th centuries. In many ways we are pygmies as compared to them.
Those who call themselves Reformed are often nicknamed ‘Calvinists’. We are not ashamed to be linked together with such a man of God as John Calvin, although we do not agree with absolutely everything he taught. We are in agreement with what has come to be known as The Five Points of Calvinism. Calvin himself did not pen these, but they were enumerated as a result of the Synod of Dort in the early 17th century to counter the five points of the Remonstrants (Arminians).
We believe the Bible definitely teaches ‘TULIP’:
- T – Total Deparavity
- U – Unconditional Election
- L – Limited Atonement
- I – Irresistible Grace
- P – Perseverance of the Saints
We also believe in what are termed the Five Solas (‘sola’ is a Latin word meaning ‘only’)
- Sola Scriptura– The Scriptures alone, our final authority
- Sola Gratia– Grace alone, only source of salvation
- Sola Fide– Faith alone, only way to receive salvation
- Sola Christus– Christ alone, only Mediator of salvation
- Soli Deo Gloria– To the glory of God alone, highest goal of salvation
These beliefs have a great impact upon our Christian life, our worship, and our evangelism.
Upendo Gospel Community Church has its own Constitution, in which its doctrinal beliefs and its practices are laid out. To download the constitution and also a booklet entitled Our Distinctive Doctrines, please find them on our literature page.
We would recommend the following books, among others:
- Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
- John Cheesman, et al, Saving Grace
- Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will
- Thomas Nettles, By His Grace and For His Glory
- John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (Works: Vol. 10)
- Arthur W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God
- Charles Spurgeon, Sovereign Grace Sermons