“Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness.” — John Wycliffe

As the Church approaches the 508th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, we are reminded that the Reformation was not born in a moment but prepared through centuries of struggle and faithfulness. Long before Martin Luther stood before the powers of Europe, another man, an English scholar named John Wycliffe, rose to proclaim the supremacy of Scripture and the sufficiency of Christ. He lived in the fourteenth century, yet his life speaks powerfully to us in Africa today, where the gospel faces its own forms of distortion and opposition.

The World of Wycliffe

Wycliffe was born in 1328, in a time of deep crisis in Europe. The Church had lost its moral authority. The popes were entangled in politics and power, living in luxury while the people suffered. Corruption was rampant. Ordinary believers were denied access to the Word of God, locked away in Latin, a language few could understand. Religion had become a system of control—built on fear, money, and human authority rather than on the grace of God.

In this world of spiritual confusion, Wycliffe emerged as a voice crying out for truth. A brilliant scholar from Oxford University, he became convinced that the Church had strayed from the teachings of Scripture. He saw clearly that salvation was being sold instead of preached, that Christ’s authority was being replaced by man’s power, and that the Bible—the very Word of God—was being kept from the people who needed it most.

The Light That Could Not Be Hidden

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:9

Wycliffe’s great conviction was simple yet revolutionary: the Bible is the highest authority for faith and life. He believed that God’s Word—not the pope, not councils, not tradition—must govern the Church. For him, Scripture was not merely a book to be honoured but a truth to be obeyed. And because it was for all people, he devoted his life to making it accessible to everyone. With the help of his students and followers, he produced the first translation of the Bible into English, making it accessible to the common man.

This conviction cost him dearly. The church hierarchy branded him a heretic. After his death in 1384, his writings were banned, his followers persecuted, and even his bones were exhumed and burned by church authorities. Yet, his ideas could not be silenced. His teachings spread throughout England, influencing men like Jan Hus, and later Martin Luther. The spark Wycliffe lit became the flame that ignited the Reformation—a return to Scripture and salvation by grace through faith alone.

Africa’s Need for a Wycliffe Spirit

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Today, the Church in Africa faces different challenges, but the root problem is the same: the authority of God’s Word is being replaced by the authority of men. Many pulpits echo with the promises of wealth, success, and miracles, but not the call to repentance and faith. Some leaders elevate themselves as “anointed mediators,” standing between God and His people. In many places, the Bible is quoted but not taught, displayed but not understood. The result is spiritual darkness, confusion, and exploitation.

What would John Wycliffe say to the African Church today? He would call us back to Scripture as our final authority, urging believers to open their Bibles and test every word they hear. He would remind us that no prophet, pastor, or pope can stand above the Word of God. He would warn that religion without truth is bondage, and that the gospel of Christ is not about earthly riches but eternal life.

Wycliffe’s belief in salvation by grace through faith speaks directly to Africa’s need for true gospel clarity. Too often, salvation is viewed as something that can be earned through fasting, tithing, or following specific rituals. But Wycliffe proclaimed, as the Reformers after him did, that we are saved not by our works but by Christ’s righteousness alone. This message cuts through centuries of superstition and points us back to the cross, where Jesus finished the work of redemption once for all.

Wycliffe also reminds us of the importance of access to the Word of God. He risked his life so that ordinary people could read Scripture for themselves. Today, though Bibles are more available than ever, many believers still do not read them. Biblical literacy remains a major hindrance to gospel growth in Africa. If the Church is to be strong, we must raise a generation that not only owns Bibles but understands and applies them. True revival in Africa will not come from crusades, music, or conferences alone—it will come when God’s people rediscover His Word and live by it.

The Cost of Truth

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

John 15:18

Wycliffe’s courage also challenges us. He did not bow to pressure, even when his reputation, position, and life were at risk. His commitment to truth was costly. The Church in Africa, too, needs such courage today. Faithful pastors must be willing to stand against false teaching, even when it means losing followers or financial support. Christian parents must teach their children the truth, even when culture mocks it. Believers must be ready to suffer loss rather than compromise the gospel.

Wycliffe’s story assures us that the truth of God cannot be silenced. His enemies burned his body, but they could not burn the Bible. His ashes were scattered into a river, but the river carried them to the sea—just as his message spread throughout the world. Today, the same truth is flowing across Africa. Churches are growing, the gospel is being preached, and the Word of God is being translated into hundreds of languages. The work that Wycliffe began continues, and Africa stands as one of its greatest testimonies.

A Call to Reformation in Our Time

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!

Romans 10:15

As we remember the 508th anniversary of the Reformation, Africa must not only celebrate the past but live its message in the present. We need a new generation of “morning stars”—men and women who shine gospel light in a continent filled with spiritual shadows. We need believers who love the Bible more than popularity, who preach Christ crucified rather than self-promotion, and who rely wholly on His righteousness rather than human merit.

John Wycliffe’s words still speak to us: “Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness.” The gospel he preached is the same gospel Africa needs today. It is the message that frees from fear, humbles the proud, and unites the Church under one Lord and Saviour.

Wycliffe believed that “the truth shall prevail.” Indeed, it has and it will. May the Church in Africa hold fast to that truth, lifting high the Scriptures, proclaiming grace alone, and trusting in Christ alone—until the glory of God fills every nation, tribe, and tongue across this continent and beyond.

Soli Deo Gloria.

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Who do I marry? What work or profession must I take on? Where should I live? etc. are some of the legitimate questions Christians ask. Believers must seek to please God in all they do and hence these questions are commendable. However, these questions tend to be answered in ways that I believe are dangerous to believers. Many books, supposedly answering these questions inundate the shelves of Christian bookshops. One such title reads, “Are You Still Single? Prayers to Locate Your Divine Spouse.” These and many more are bestsellers because people are indeed looking for answers to life’s questions and somewhat these titles promise to offer them their answers. But are they the right answers?

As believers, God has given us his Word as the means by which we will please him and every other “How Tos” not faithful to Scripture are to be avoided. And many of these “How Tos” are indeed unfaithful to Scripture. The Old and New Testaments; that is the whole Bible has been given to us “to be the rule of faith and life.”¹ A rule, by dictionary definition, is “a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct over an area of people”. It is also “control of or dominion over an area or people” Following from this definition, the Word of God then becomes our explicit or understood regulations or principles governing our conduct. The word of God has control of or dominion over us. This simply a means Scripture has an overarching authority over the believer. If Scripture is the word of God (and it is), then we are to submit our whole lives to its obedience, for in the obedience of Scripture we obey God.  Everything we need to live lives pleasing to God is addressed in Scripture. Is this not an over-stretch you may ask? No, it is not. The Bible indeed has all the answers for our lives.

Perhaps one of the places in Scripture where Scripture testifies of itself is Psalm 119. In this Psalm, David speaks of all what the word of God does for the believer. He places a premium on the Word and in this Psalm, David celebrates the Word of God. The Word keeps us pure, he says. There are wondrous things in the Word to behold, he beckons. The Word is to be treasured above all riches, he admonishes. How relevant all these are to someone who wants to please God by his word! The question remaining unanswered so far is how the word of God gives us guidance. To this I turn to the Westminster Confession of Faith:

The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed.²

There are two important things to be noted in the words of the confession in terms of knowing those things which please God and serve as a guide for our lives. Firstly, there are those things expressly set down in Scripture and secondly, there are those things by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture. In other words, there are things that are so plain in Scripture we don’t need second thoughts or opinions to obey them; and there are those things we cannot clearly see stated in Scripture but can know them as we study and apply Scripture.

I will describe this as moving from the known to the unknown: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29)

Expressly Set Down In Scripture

Whatever is expressly set down in Scripture simply indicates things that are clear and unambiguous. They are things that are revealed and ought to be obeyed. They are so plain it will take only disobedience not to see them. One of the characteristics of the Bible taught by the sixteenth-century Reformers is what they call perspicuity of Scripture. “What they mean by that technical term was the clarity of Scripture. They maintained that the Bible is basically clear and lucid. It is simple enough for any literate person to understand its basic message.”³ Of course, this doesn’t mean everything in Scripture can be easily understood. But at least, the very important things we need are explicit.

All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.⁴

One of the clear teachings of Scripture about our conduct as believers is in 1 Thess. 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” God demands nothing but a sanctified life; that is, a life separated from any form of ungodliness. The text actually goes on to list all that is in view here by our sanctification: “that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” (vv.4-7) The list here is not exhaustive, albeit it tells us clearly what God demands from us. It guides our conduct. The popular verse, Romans 12:1-2 is another place we see an explicit teaching of Scripture: “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”.

There are indeed many other teachings of Scripture on money, relationships, employment, marriage and any other thing we may call practical issues of life. We are to be good stewards of our finances. We are to love one another as ourselves. As Christians, we are to marry Christians and of course we are to marry from the opposite sex and not same sex. In matters of employment, we are to firstly work and work as unto God and not as to men. These are basics indeed and if we commit to obeying these, other areas of our lives would be less blurred.

Deducing from Scripture by Good and Necessary Consequence

The Scriptures are to be studied and its lessons applied to our life. Any believer who doesn’t make the study of Scripture a part of their life will surely walk about not knowing what God requires of them in any sphere of life. All Scripture, Paul tells us, is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (1Timothy 3:16-17) If Scripture is profitable, then we are to study it and apply it to our lives. For example, studying Scripture will lead us to make a good choice of a marriage partner. God’s word has already laid down many things to look out for when one is considering marriage. As I mentioned earlier, first consideration for marriage is that a believer marries a believer of the opposite sex (this emphasis is important as marriage has taken on an unbiblical outlook). This is a non-negotiable and anything contrary to it is unbiblical. This is a general rule, but how does one narrow down to specifics? Well, if you find a Christian and you both love each other, nothing prevents you from marrying.

Many believers are postponing important life decisions because somehow they want to hear God speak to them. Well, God has spoken in Scripture (Heb. 1:-2), they are simply not listening. Stop postponing life decisions. Make decisions as long as they don’t violate what God has clearly revealed in Scripture.

Waiting for this will of direction is a mess. It is bad for your life, harmful to your sanctification, and allows too many Christians to be passive tinkers who strangely feel more spiritual the less they actually do⁵

I will conclude with the last part of the Confession which is very instructive: “according to the general rules of the word.” (1.6). Whatever decisions we must make should be guided by what Scripture clearly teaches and we will not go wrong. Let Scripture be your guide in your decision-making. Say with David “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Notes:

1. Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) (1.2)
2. WCF (1.6)
3. R.C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009), Kindle edition
4. WCF (1.7)
5. Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), Kindle edition

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The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God”. Psalm 92:12-13, ESV

A cursory look at Christian programs on TV reveals a worrying trend in our churches. Almost every Christian channel one turns to has material prosperity as the content of its message. One wonders if the gospel is only about material prosperity. The teaching of the unadulterated word of God has been replaced by an undue emphasis on the “non-weightier matters”. While I am not against material prosperity, I believe true Christian prosperity — which is not limited to material blessing — is being rooted in the Word of The LORD.

We are still in the early days of the year, it is essential for us to reflect on our walk with God and seek to be grounded in our relationship with Him.

In this beautiful Psalm of thanks and praise to God, the Psalmist describes the righteous as flourishing like a palm tree and growing like a cedar in Lebanon (v.12). He continues in v. 13 by saying they are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.

What does the Psalmist mean by these Agricultural analogies?

In describing the believer’s life, the Psalmist uses terms that symbolizes growth and thriving. And he does so by using two of the toughest trees one could find. These trees have very unique properties that speaks volumes to the believers’ life. They both grow strong and firm in the ground. They can withstand harsh conditions without withering. Unlike the wicked, who are compared to grass that sprouts and withers, the righteous will flourish. Notable also is the longevity of the Palm and Cedar trees and their continuous bearing of fruits.

These analogies describes the life of a Christian in terms of growth, maturity, holiness, fruit bearing and eternal life. How sad we hardly hear about being planted–growth, maturity, holiness, and fruit bearing– on many pulpits.

How Can We Be Planted?

The most reliable source to keep us planted in the house of the Lord is the word of God. Growth and maturity in Christian living do not come by accident. They require deliberate effort and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. The story of Joshua has much encouragement for us as we seek to be planted in God’s house. Joshua was given the mandate to lead God’s people to the promised  land. He accepted the task with much uncertainty and fear, having seen first hand the stubbornness of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses. But God reassured him and pointed him to His word:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success’ (Joshua 1:8).

The command of God to Joshua in not allowing His Law to depart from his mouth, but to make it his whole life preoccupation is something that holds instruction for us. J. C Ryle, has said ‘the Bible is the true lantern for a dark and cloudy time, let us beware of travelling without its light’. There are many things that will seek to take our focus away from God each passing moment, but it is the Word of God that will stamp our persuasion in Christ Jesus.

Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church admonished them to “…keep the ordinances…”(1 Corinthians 11:2, KJV). He says to the Corinthian church as he does to us to hold fast the whole body of truth of the Gospel as has been delivered to us in the Bible.

A lot of false teachings abound that seek to take the focus away from Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. It behooves us to keep the Word of God, to be planted in the house of God. Make the word “a lamp to [your] feet and a light to [your] path.(Psalm 119:105).

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