Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and vain babblings:
for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15-16
How can we tell the difference? How we you tell the difference between those who teach the truth and those who elevate their own fleshly ideas? Sometimes it is difficult to decipher. Other times it is easy to see.
What is the litmus test?
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,
that ye should not obey the truth,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Galatians 3:1
That is a clue.
Not obeying the truth.
Keeping those core beliefs, and not getting swayed by frivolous things, or sin that gets excused, when the truth of the word of God is not considered valid in all things.
This is a very big subject that has many facets to it. It will be one of those truths that we may never fully understand during our time on Earth. Most importantly, love the truth and to always put God’s word above your own thoughts and submit to it. If you put your ideas above God or try to change what has been written, it will not go well and could end in disaster.
Scriptural References:
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways, saith 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.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,
and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth:
it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5