This is one of the most important bible study topics you will ever study because it will determine how you see and relate to the Word of God. “Sufficiency of the Holy Scripture” is a doctrine that has brought much controversy in Christianity as to whether the scripture contains everything humanity needs to know about God and to conduct their lives. In this study, we will examine the Scriptures for what it says about this all-important topic.

Study Questions
1. What is the doctrine of the sufficiency of the Scripture?
2. Are there any scriptural references that support the Sufficiency of the Scripture?
3. What are the attributes of God’s Word that suggest it is sufficient?
4. What is the scripture sufficient for?
5. What happens when you don’t believe the word of God is sufficient?
6. What should be your attitude towards the word of God?
7. What should be your stand if authorities’ laws contradict the principles of the Scripture?

Questions and Comments
1. What is the doctrine of the sufficiency of the Scripture?
The sufficiency of the Scripture is a doctrine that teaches that the Bible alone has all the necessary knowledge of how humanity should live, conducts their lives, and worship God. In other words, the bible is complete and sufficient for beliefs and all we need to know about God. It is the final revelation of God to man, and nothing else needed to be revealed, so nothing should be added or removed from it.

2. Are there any scriptural references that support the Sufficiency of the Scriptures?
a. The scripture says God has given us all things we need for life and godliness.
2 Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

b. The scripture says God has revealed to man once and for all the faith (truth, belief system) we need to know Him and serve Him.
Jude 1:3, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Jude 1:3 GNB, “My dear friends, I was doing my best to write to you about the salvation we share in common, when I felt the need of writing at once to encourage you to fight on for the faith which once and for all God has given to his people.”

c. The scripture says the word of God is complete and sufficient, and nothing should be added or removed from it.
Proverbs 30:5-6, Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”

Deuteronomy 4:2, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

Revelation 22: 18-19, For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

d. God has specified in the Scriptures the way we are to worship Him and He warned us not to change it.
Deuteronomy 12:31-32, “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”

e. The Scriptures have everything to build and make you complete to the full measure of the Messiah.
Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Ephesians 4:11-13 , “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

3. What are the attributes of God’s Word that suggest it is sufficient?
a. The Word of God is Perfect.
The word ‘perfect’ in Psalm 19 verse 7 is from the Hebrew word tamiym (taw-meem) and it means complete, full, whole. It means the word of God is entire without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings. It is accurate, thorough, and correct in every detail. So, everything we need to live our lives can be found in the scriptures.
Scriptural references
Psalms 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;”

b. The Word of God is Pure.
The word of God is clean and clear without any impurities. It is undiluted, spotless, and untainted. It is refined as the work of a goldsmith without any dross. The Word has been purified seven times. In its original language, it is without any error. It is Holy and perfect in all its given. It is proven and is plain and nothing is crooked or perverse is in it.
Scriptural references
Proverbs 30:5a, Every word of God is pure;

Psalms 119:140, Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.

Psalms 12:6, The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.

Psalms 18:30, As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Proverbs 8:8, All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

c. The Word of God is powerful.
The Word of God is powerful, that is, it is effectual. It is capable of producing an intended effect. It is powerful to bring forth salvation and healing. It can bring forth deliverance, blessings and prosperity, a life of abundance, peace, joy, and salvation. The word of God is so powerful that it cannot fail.
Scriptural references
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Isaiah 55:11, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Psalms 107:20, He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

d. The Word of God is active.
The word of God is living. There is life in the Word. By reading, studying, and doing what it says you will receive the very life of God – Zoe. It can revive the dead and bring dry bone to live.
Scriptural references
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

John 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Psalms 119: 50, 93, “This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

e. The Word of God is sharp.
The word of God has a penetrating power. It has the capability to reveal what is wrong in your life and give you the solution if you allow it. It can discern the intent and thought of your heart.
Scriptural references
Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

f. The Word of God is true.
The scripture is the basis of what is right or wrong. It is trustworthy and is the source of the truth regarding life and godliness, death, the judgment of God, righteousness, marriage, sin, salvation, morality, and many more. There is no better place to find the truth on any subject of life than the Holy Scriptures.
Scriptural references
John 17:17, 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Psalms 119:160, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

g. The Word of God endures forever.

The Word of God is eternal. It lives and abides forever. From eternity past to eternity present, it is the same word that will be used to judge all humanity because it does not change.
Scriptural references
1 Peter 1:23-25, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:8, The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

h. The Word of God is unchanging.
The word of God bears the same attributes as God. Because God does not change, His word cannot change. It stands firm and is unchangeable. It is inspired by the all-knowing God who is ever faithful. It can never be outdated or become obsolete, thus it does not need revising or updating by man.
Scriptural references
Psalms 119:89, Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven.

Psalms 89:34, “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”

4. What is the scripture sufficient for?
a. The Word of God is sufficient for learning, Romans 15:4.
In the scriptures, there is a lot to learn so much that it is a lifetime of learning. You can learn about God the Creator of mankind, about God’s purpose of creating man, about the origin of evil, about sin and how it entered the world, about humanity’s adversity, about the ultimate plan of salvation for man, about God’s law and His love, how we are to relate with our neighbor, how to develop good character, how to overcome sin and temptation, about the church and your role in it, about the soon-coming kingdom of God, and many more. Without the Word of God, there will be so many questions unanswered about the world we live in and the universe. The word of God is the Creator’s manual you can consult for answers on any issues about God and His creation. The word of God is fully loaded with both spiritual and physical knowledge for everyone who wants to learn.
Scriptural references
Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

b. The Word of God is sufficient for doctrine, 2 Timothy 3:16
The word of God is sufficient for teaching the truth because it is the basis of what is right or wrong. The word of God sets the acceptable teachings of what is to be taught, preached, believed, and practiced. It is the standard by which we are to live and govern our life. It is God’s comprehensive curriculum for humanity in all life matters.

Scriptural references
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

c. The Word of God is sufficient for reproof, 2 Timothy 3:16
The word of God can pierce and divide between the soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. It has the ability to analyze and evaluate your life and then show you what is wrong with it. The word of God shows who you really are. The word of God through the Holy Spirit can judge your thoughts and intentions and can convict you of your sins, John16:8.
Scriptural references
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

John 16:8, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

d. The Word of God is sufficient for correction, 2 Timothy 3:16
The main reason why God gave us His word is to correct the broken relationship with Him. To correct the fallen state of man and reconcile us back to Him and paradise. The word of God has the ability to correct your faults and restore you to the path of life. It corrects broken relationships in any relationship. The word of God teaches you how to recover from the bondage of sin, addiction, and hopelessness to a life of total restoration.
Scriptural references
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

e. The word of God is sufficient for instruction, 2 Timothy 3:16
The word of God is a comprehensive instruction manual for everything that pertains to life and godliness. In the word of God, there are instructions about marriage, how to train your child, how to be successful, leadership, good governance, prayer and fasting, how to overcome sin, how to relate with your neighbor, how to truly worship God, business practices, farming principles, court and judicial procedures, right living and many more.
Scriptural references
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

f. The Word of God is sufficient for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word of God is sufficient to train you for what God wants you to be. It prepares you for life challenges and how to overcome them. The word of God has instructions on how to live a righteous and victorious life. It trains you on how to build character and be ready for your ultimate purpose in life – Rulership with the Messiah. The training is to make you complete (lacking nothing), proficient, self-disciplined, and fully equipped for every good work. It is to build you up to the measure of the Messiah.

Scriptural references
2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,17, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

James 1:18, Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

g. The word of God is sufficient for all you need for life and godliness.
The word of God contains all the knowledge you need for life issues. It has the principles and applications to solve life problems and has guidelines for salvation and godliness. God has never left any issues that His word cannot solve since the fall of man.
Scriptural references
2 Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

5. What happens when you don’t believe the word of God is sufficient?
One of Satan’s ways of infiltrating his ideas into the true belief system is to make you deny the sufficiency of God’s word. God revealed this Satan’s antic as the very reason for man’s fall. In Genesis chapter 2:16-17, God gave a simple, clear, and straightforward commandment to Adam, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” But Satan deceived Eve to doubt and deny the sufficiency of God’s Word with a promise of self-gratification. He then used the opportunity to thwart God’s word in order to create his own ideas. Genesis 3:4-5 “Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

God told Adam he will die if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Satan gave a contradicting message – eat from the tree and you will not die, rather you will be like God. Satan’s deception was even made stronger when he added God in his ideas to cement his lies. He said, “God knows”. But it was not only Satan that added to God’s word, but Eve also added to it. Eve told the serpent that God said they are not to touch the tree. Genesis 3:2-3 “And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ When you compare these statements to the instructions God gave in Genesis 2:16-17, it is obvious that God did not forbid them from touching the tree, Eve added to it.

When you don’t believe the word of God is sufficient, many things will go wrong, the following are some of them.

a. You will doubt and question God’s authority,
When you don’t believe in the sufficiency of God’s Word, it will lead you to doubt the word of God and to question His authority. The reason Eve listened to Satan was because she doubted the word of her Creator as sufficient. Doubting the word of God is questioning the authority of God and importantly a sign of lack of faith in Him.

b. You will deny God and invariably reject Him
Denying the sufficiency of the Scripture is denying the wisdom of the omniscient God. God wants you to trust in His wisdom and not be wise in your own understanding. The many problems of the world today are as a result of trusting in our wisdom and rejecting the word of God as sufficient. When you reject the word of God, you reject God. The moment Eve rejected the word of God, little did she know that she also rejected His Creator. Romans 1:22, Proverbs 3:5-6

c. You will turn to an alternative source of knowledge
When you deny the sufficiency of the word of God you are bound to turn from the truth into extra-biblical teaching beyond the Scripture. The reason we have all kinds of false teachings in Christianity and the world is because man rejects the word of God as sufficient. The rejection of the sufficiency of the word of God will make you turn to heresies, philosophies, demonic doctrines and myths. Eve did not believe that the word of God was sufficient, so she turned to alternative sources of knowledge- Satan’s.
Scriptural references
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

I Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,”

2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

2 Peter 2:1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

d. It will lead to the formation and veneration of human doctrine over the scriptures
The reason why we have so many human doctrines in the church today is that the Church did not believe the word of God is sufficient. Because of this, the church laid aside or replaced the word of God with their own doctrines and creeds and making them equal or higher in authority than the Scriptures. When the Church does not believe the word of God is sufficient, human traditions will be exalted and given more importance than the word of God.
Scriptural references
Mark 7:8-9, “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men-the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”

Titus 1:14, “not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.”

e. It will lead to divisions in the church.
God is not an author of confusion, 1 Corinthians 14:33. He wants the Church to have the same mind and speak the same thing. 1 Corinthians 1:10. And if God wants the Church to speak the same thing, He will never give contradicting doctrines to His children or give room to anyone to alter His word in any way. The main reason we have divisions in the church over doctrines is because of the new revelations, many ministers claim God gave to them. And when you critically examine these revelations, they are usually found to be outside what has been written. This has led to a situation where people do as it is right in their eyes in the name “God told me”. It is the main reason we have a confusing and contradicting prophesies and revelations in the Church. Because the church has never agreed on what has been written, divisions are inevitable.
Scriptural references
Deuteronomy 12:8, “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today— every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes—”

f. Gives room for imposters and false ministers to enter the church.
The reason why we have lots of imposters and false ministers in the church is that these uncalled individuals know they can easily manipulate the word of God to make disciples after themselves without anyone questioning them. Many are deceived today because they believed these false ministers and also because they did not study the Bible personally. They allowed their eternity to be determined by these uncalled ministers. The Scripture warns, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1. “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Acts 20:30. “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,” 2 Timothy 3:13-14.

g. Lay unnecessarily burden on people
How many things do we do in the church today that God actually did not command – unnecessary assembly, rituals and activities? And because of these, we have left important matters unattended. There are many people in the church today carrying the burdens that God never laid on them which was laid upon them by their ministers, church or religion. God has a burden, but it is a light and easy one when we follow Him correctly, I John 5:3, Matthew 11: 28-30. The reason the Pharisees did not like the teachings of the Messiah was that He was trying to remove the burdens of religion placed upon men by them and replace it with God’s burden which is light and easy. When you deny the sufficiency of the Scripture you will carry unnecessary religious burdens in the name of doing God’s work.
Scriptural references
Luke 11:46, “And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”

Colossians 2:20-22, “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men?”

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

h. It will lead to vain worship
Many do not have the idea that they can worship God in vain. The scripture states in Mark 7:7-9 “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men-the washing of pitchers and cups and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Yes, one’s worship can be vain if it is based on the traditions and commandments of men and not what God commanded. In Christianity, there are traditions and commandments of men because many religious leaders like the Pharisees denied or reject the sufficiency of the Scripture so that they can keep their traditions – all the religious rituals. When you don’t believe in the sufficiency of the Scripture you will worship God in the way He has not commanded and invariably lead to vain worship. The Almighty God wants us to worship Him exactly He has commanded, and you need to trust His word completely to do that, Deuteronomy 5:32; 28:14.

i. You will always live in disobedience to God’s word.
When you don’t believe that the scripture is sufficient, obeying God in totality will be difficult to achieve. Because those who do not believe the scripture is sufficient always have an alternative source of knowledge they depend on. No matter how good this alternative source of knowledge may be, following them will lead to living in disobedience to God’s word. Adam and Eve thought they got a knowledge of how their eyes will be opened and become like God but following that knowledge led them to violate the commandment of God leading to serious consequences. Saul, the first king of Israel, thought he had the idea to impress God after God had given him instructions about the Amalakites. He acted contrary to the word of God and the consequence was serious. When you don’t believe the word of God is sufficient you are bound to disobey Him.

6. What should be your attitude towards the word of God?
a. Believe the Scripture for what it says
The Holy Scripture is the inspired word of God, written through holy men chosen by Him, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21. In its original manuscript they are perfect and without any errors, Psalm 19:7, James 1:25. They have been tried seven times and are forever settled in heaven, Psalms 12:6, Psalms 119:89. The first step in understanding the scriptures is to believe that the scriptures are God’s word. To believe that the scriptures are God’s word is to agree with what is written in it. God does not reveal his truth to those who do not believe in His word. To believe the scripture is God’s word is a good sign of readiness to walk with Him and to be able to walk to Him, you need to agree with what He has said in His word.

Believe the Word of God for what it says and know that God is omniscient, wiser than man; He does not make mistakes. Always trust the word of God for what it says and don’t be wise in your own understanding. The commandments of God and what man commanded do not lead to the same destination. Following the word of God brings life, but the way of man leads to destruction. Faith is very essential in your quest to understand the word of God.
Scriptural references
Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”

Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Proverbs 3:5-8, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”

b. Study the Scripture and prove it.
You are responsible to personally study the word of God because knowing what it says has effects on your life and eternity. Do not base your belief system on what you hear from the pulpit alone. God wants you to prove (test, examine, verify) all things and hold to that which is good. We are living in the end time where false doctrines prevail. Where men have set aside the teachings and commandments of God in order to establish their own. For unsuspecting believers, it is very easy to fall into traps of these false ministers. Proving the word of God is the most important task to safeguard anyone who wants to know the truth from falsehood. You are to have the attitude of the Christians in Berea who hear the word, receive it with gladness, but go back home to search the scriptures whether the things they hear are true. Proving the word will help you differentiate between what is true and false, between what is right and wrong, between what God says and what men say. It is the responsibility of each believer to verify (research) whatever doctrine he or she believes, find out where they come from, who commanded it. Did the Messiah and His Apostles practice and commanded them or are they just men philosophies and traditions. Proving the word makes Bible study interesting, real, thought-provoking, and moments of a true learning experience. By proving the word, you can discover what religion is trying cover and the lies of men and you will truly encounter the truth that will set you free from the bondage of religion. It is your responsibility to study and prove the word of God, failure to do so may lead to vain worship. In the worship of God, everything must be tested according to the written word of God.
Scriptural references
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

I Thessalonians 5:20-22, “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 CJB, “don’t despise inspired messages. But do test everything — hold onto what is good, but keep away from every form of evil.”

Acts 17:10-11, “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

c. Obey what the scriptures say
We are living in a time where many want to live their lives according to their own terms and conditions. People do things as it is right in their own eyes. Even coming to the word of God, people want to hear or study what they like or what is pleasing to them, 2 Timothy 4:3-4. People want the word of God to change because of them and not change because of the word of God. So, when you study the word of God, study it for correction. You must Study to want to know the truth and in readiness to please God and not man. You must be prepared to do as it says, not just a reader or hearer but a doer of the word, James 1:22-25, Romans 2:13. You must know that If one truth is revealed to you and you don’t run with it, another one may not be revealed to you. This is one of the reasons why many are learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 3:7. As you study the scriptures, bear in mind that the scriptures are written for our learning so that we can have hope, Romans 15:4. The purpose of the word of God is to teach you the truth, the truth points out what is wrong in your life and then tells you how to correct the wrong. After correction, it instructs you how to now live rightly. When you allow the word of God to fully do his work in you, then you will be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Scriptural references
2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

James 1:22-25, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

Romans 2:13, “(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;”

2 Timothy 3:7, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ICB, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right. “Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be ready and will have everything he needs to do every good work.”

7. What should be your stand if authorities’ laws contradict the principles of the Scripture?
Read: Exodus 1:15-17, Daniel 3:16-18, Acts 5:26-29, Joshua 24:14-15.
Comment
You must resolve to obey God rather than man.
Scriptural references
Exodus 1:15-17, Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Acts 5:26-29, Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Joshua 24:14-15, “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of [d]the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Conclusion
God is not an author of confusion. He wants all things done decently and in order and for His children to have the same mind and speak the same thing. If He wants us to have the same mind and speak the same thing, He will give no room for anyone or religious body to add or subtract from His word. The Word of God is perfect, pure, powerful, and complete and is the final authority on all life issues. Nothing is to be added or subtracted from it. It is comprehensive and contains principles to solve every spiritual and physical problem or need in life. The Holy Scripture is inspired by the all-knowing God and is the final revelation of his will for humanity. Satan wants you to doubt the word of God and to think it is insufficient. This notion will then lead you to add or subtract from it or to look for alternative sources of knowledge. Humanity is not complete without the word of God. We are created to depend on it for life and godliness and to apply its principles for life difficult situations that are not stated specifically in the scriptures. When you trust God and fully obey His word, He is “able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8.