How do we know what is true and what is false in relation to God?
Discerning truth about God requires objective tests: agreement with Scripture, alignment with God's purpose of creation (mature character, true family, loving dominion), and the fruit of transformed lives. This teaching adds that truth unfolds progressively as humanity matures, fulfilling rather than destroying earlier revelation. Truth is finally verified by practice, not by argument.
In a world overflowing with competing claims about God—religions, philosophies, spiritual movements, and skeptics—how can anyone know what is actually true about Him? The question is not merely academic; our eternal life depends on it. The Bible and the Divine Principle together provide reliable criteria for distinguishing truth from falsehood in relation to God, anchoring discernment in God's original purpose rather than in human opinion.
The Biblical Foundation
Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Truth, in the biblical view, is ultimately personal—embodied in Christ—not merely a set of propositions. Yet Scripture also gives objective tests. God's word itself is the standard: “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Isaiah sets the criterion: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). The psalmist affirms this, stating, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The Bible also warns that falsehood often comes dressed in religious clothing. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). False prophets may appear in “sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”—and the test is fruit: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15-20). Paul warns of those “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). Truth about God, then, is verified by agreement with God's revealed word and by the fruit it produces in transformed lives. As Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God” (John 7:17).
The Divine Principle Perspective: Truth Reflects the Purpose of Creation
The Divine Principle adds a powerful structural criterion: truth about God is that which accords with His original purpose of creation, and falsehood is whatever deviates from or contradicts it. God is the Creator who designed the universe with law, order, and purpose—the Three Great Blessings of individual maturity, true family, and loving dominion (Genesis 1:28). Any teaching about God that leads toward mature character, genuine love in the family, and responsible stewardship of creation resonates with the Creator's design; any teaching that undermines these, no matter how spiritual it sounds, deviates from the truth.
This also explains why truth is progressive. Jesus said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12-13). Truth does not change, but humanity's capacity to receive it grows as we mature. God reveals deeper truth at the appropriate stage of restoration, just as a parent explains more to an older child. Therefore, genuine truth builds upon and fulfills earlier revelation rather than destroying it—as Jesus said, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matthew 5:17).
Truth Is Verified in Practice
Truth is not proven by argument alone, but by practice and results. The truth of God's word is demonstrated when it transforms selfish people into people who live for the sake of others, heals broken families, and builds communities of peace. A teaching may be intellectually impressive, but if it cannot change the human heart and restore the family, it lacks the power of God's truth. The ultimate verification is love: God's truth always moves people toward His parental heart.
Living the Principle
Test every teaching about God with three questions: Does it agree with Scripture rightly understood in its full arc from Genesis to Revelation? Does it align with God's purpose of creation—mature character, true family, loving dominion? Does it bear the fruit of transformed, other-centered lives? Then commit to practicing the truth you already know, for truth is grasped most deeply not by those who debate it, but by those who live it. As you walk in the light you have, God, through the Spirit of truth, will guide you into greater light.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.