I often think back to my childhood and the influence God’s Word had on my life as a very young boy. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church, and every summer, we attended Vacation Bible School. Every morning, we would march into the auditorium and take our seats, and the moment would come when we would all stand and say, “I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s holy Word. I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, that I may not sin against God.” Those words were planted deep inside me so that even as a child, I understood that the Bible was not just another book — it was God’s Word.

Knowing this, I made a decision long ago that the Bible would have the final say in my life, and I want to remind you that it should hold that same place in your life as well. In fact, when we go to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:18, we see the tremendous amount of respect and honor that He had for the Word: “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

When Jesus mentioned “the law,” He used the term that commonly referred to the sacred Scriptures, and when He used the expressions “one jot or one tittle,” He was referring to the smallest letter of the alphabet and the smallest stroke used in writing respectively. In other words, Jesus was saying that not even the tiniest detail of God’s Word could ever lose its authority or fail to be fulfilled. Jesus is making an emphatic statement about the reliability of the Word of God.

Friend, the Scriptures were the final authority in Jesus’ life, and if this was true of Him, who is the Word of God, then it needs to be true of us. We must align our lives with the finality of God’s Word.

Jesus’ reverence for Scripture reminds me of 2 Timothy 3:14-15, where Paul wrote to Timothy and urged him, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Timothy had been raised by a Jewish mother, and Paul was reminding him to remain steadfast in the truths that had been imparted to him from childhood.

The word “continue” in this passage is critically important — it comes from the Greek word meno (μένω), which means to remain, to abide, to stay, to endure firmly, to be steadfast, and to be unwavering. It describes a refusal to move. In military usage, it pictured soldiers holding territory they had already gained, even when under attack.

That word could not be more relevant today. We are living in a time when people are attempting to modify Scripture, redefine morality, and reshape truth to fit cultural trends, but Scripture commands us to continue. This is not a suggestion — it is a command. When the Word of God is under assault, we are not to retreat. We are to hold fast. We are to stand our ground.

I also want to point out that Paul says Timothy had known these things “from a child.” The word “child” here is the Greek word brephos (βρέφος), which describes a nursing infant. The image is unmistakable of Timothy’s mother holding him closer to her, speaking the Word of God to him from the earliest moments of life. This is a powerful reminder to parents: Do not wait until a child is older to instruct him or her in the ways of God. Even in infancy, a child’s spirit has the capacity to receive.

In verse 15, Paul refers to the Scriptures as “the holy scriptures,” a phrase that perfectly aligns with what Jesus said in Matthew 5. “Holy scriptures” means sacred writings — every letter, every stroke, every mark. Nothing is insignificant. Nothing is expendable. All of it is holy. In fact, Paul says they are able to make a person wise unto salvation. The word “able” is the Greek word dunamena (δυνάμενά), which speaks of power and ability. The Scriptures possess real, effective power. They are capable of producing something in the person who submits to them.

When Paul says they are able to make someone “wise,” he uses a form of the Greek word sophos (σοφός). It’s important to note that this is not knowledge gained from books or education alone. It describes wisdom that is not naturally attained but is given by God through supernatural insight. It was also used to describe the intellectual elites of society: philosophers, scientists, physicians, teachers — those considered brilliant and a cut above the rest.

When the Word of God has the final say-so in your life, it imparts this kind of wisdom. It gives you insight that others simply do not possess. There are many intelligent people who lack common sense, but when God’s Word governs your life, it elevates you. It gives you wisdom that produces discernment, clarity, and sound judgment, and it leads to “salvation” — the Greek word soteria (σωτηρία).

This word means far more than forgiveness of sins. It includes deliverance, healing, preservation, safety, prosperity, soundness of mind, and overall well-being. When the Word of God is working in you and you allow it to be the final authority, it releases power that touches every dimension of life.

All of that leads us into 1 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

The word “all” here is pasa (πᾶσα), meaning every part without exception, and “given by inspiration of God” comes from the Greek word theopneustos (θεόπνευστος). This word is rich with meaning. Theos means God, and pneō means to breathe. Pneō could first of all describe creative power, just as the Spirit of God released creative force at the beginning of creation. Secondly it was used to describe fragrance — perfume released into the air. Third it could refer to breath producing music, as when a flute player breathes into an instrument, and a beautiful sound emerges.

Friend, when God breathed His breath into Scripture, He placed creative power in it, He placed Heaven’s fragrance in it, and He placed the very sounds of Heaven in it. When you open the Word and allow it to govern your life, it releases creativity, a new atmosphere, and new music into your life. But just as perfume must be uncapped to release its fragrance, Scripture must be opened and received.

Let me make something very clear: this is not a one-time decision. It is a daily commitment. Every day presents new choices, new voices, and new opportunities either to submit to Scripture or to set it aside, but the more consistently we choose God’s Word, the more natural that choice becomes.

My friends, I want to say again how vitally important this principle is. God’s Word is trustworthy. It has been tested and has endured for thousands of years. Cultures have changed, governments have risen and fallen, and opinions have shifted, but the Word of God remains! The British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth once wrote in his Bible, “Never compare this Book with other books. Comparisons are dangerous. Never think or say that this Book contains the Word of God. It is the Word of God.”

If you will make the decision to give Scripture the final say-so in your life, you will never regret it. You may not always understand everything immediately. You may not always see the results overnight, but you will be building your life on something that is divine and cannot be shaken.

I’ll say it one more time: Never think or say that this book just contains the Word of God — it is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, and inspired in totality. Take it in, work it out, and pass it on to others. It is the Word of God, and my friends, you need to make it your final authority.