Don’t swallow as truth everything you hear set forth as the Truth from Scripture. I don’t care who is speaking, you test what they say because Satan can appear as an angel of light! The reason for this encouragement is that in 1 John 4:1 it is written…
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Just because a man stands behind a pulpit… gives a speech in a religious setting… and uses the Bible as his text does NOT mean what he says is right NOR does it mean he is a Christian NOR does it mean you should believe what he says.
Every time the believer hears a message or teaching when Scripture is used, it is required that what is said is tested by The Word. There are people who distort the Scripture for their own gain. There are people who, though well intentioned, do not faithfully proclaim the Word. Then there are those who Satan uses to lead people astray from the Truth.
The way to discern truth from error is simple. Know the Truth so well that when unsound doctrine is spoken it is immediately recognized as such. Doctrinal error is subtle and sometimes not easy to distinguish. So every time the Word is preached in your hearing… listen closely. Engage your mind. Cut through the clutter of jokes and flashy presentation to what is actually being said.
For example…
A person cannot be a Christian and a practicing homosexual (Or drunkard… or thief… or liar… or adulterer. 1 Cor 6:9-10)
A person cannot be a Christian and reject the Virgin Birth…
A person cannot be a Christian and deny Jesus is God…
A person cannot be a Christian and reject the Trinity…
A person cannot be a Christian and affirm there is another way to be saved other than Jesus Christ…
A person cannot be a Christian and not become more like Jesus day by day… month by month… year by year.
How are those things known to be God’s Truth? By studying, reading, and applying the Scripture. And those are just the basics.
Consider Hebrews 5:11-6:3…
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.