Many Christians claim to be, or to have been, led by the Holy Spirit in regard to something they have done or something they believe. The Holy Spirit never leads contrary to the Bible! However, many Christians discount Scripture, claiming that the Holy Spirit is leading, or has led, them otherwise. Christians who believe that the Holy Spirit sometimes leads contrary to God's Word are sorely deceived. Think of it this way: if the Holy Spirit ever did lead contrary to the Bible, then nothing anybody might say could be thought of as biblically incorrect. Upon what basis would anybody have to challenge the claim of being led by the Holy Spirit? After all, if the Holy Spirit is leading you, then you must be correct, which means anyone who opposes you must be wrong. As such, how could anybody discern anything as being a deception? Simple: by conformity to Scripture.
The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible must be our absolute and final authority on all matters pertaining to doctrine, church practice, family life, and personal holiness. Regardless of how we were raised, what we were taught, what we might presently believe, regardless of our opinions, our feelings, or our proclivities, we are to subject ourselves and our beliefs entirely to the Word of God. If it contradicts us, then we are to submit ourselves to it—no matter the cost to ourselves. Go by Scripture, even when the consequences of such are unthinkable to you. This is called death to self; taking up our cross daily. It is fundamental to being a Christian. The Word of God never submits to us, our culture, our ethnicity, or anything else.
Many Christians claim that the Bible is their final authority, but in reality they have other authorities that conflict with it. For example, many Christians will get defensive if you suggest that their creed, confession, constitution, statement of faith, or system of theology might me more authoritative that Scripture itself. Many of these individuals stand in danger of testing Scripture by their creed, confession, constitution, statement of faith, or system of theology rather than the other way around. In other words, they read the Bible through the filter of their belief system rather than filtering their belief system through the Bible. Christians who understand the importance and function of Scriptural authority in all matters are rightly saddened by Christians who do not understand this.
What is your authority? Is it church history? Is it church tradition? Is it your creed? Is it your confession? Is it your constitution? Is it your statement of faith? Is it your system of theology? Is it what the “experts” tell you? Is it your subjective feelings or opinions? Or is it Scripture alone? Scripture—not pragmatic considerations—should be our absolute and final authority.