I

What's the most basic principle in seeking the true way?

You have to see whether or not there's the Holy Spirit's work in this way,

whether or not these words are the expression of the truth,

who is testified to, and what it can bring you.

Discerning the true way from the false way

requires some aspects of basic knowledge,

the most basic of which is to tell

if the Holy Spirit's work is present therein.

For the essence of people's belief in God is the belief in God's Spirit,

and even their belief in God incarnate

is because this flesh is the embodiment of God's Spirit,

which means that such belief is still belief in the Spirit.

There are differences between the Spirit and the flesh,

but because this flesh comes from the Spirit,

and is the Word become flesh, the Word become flesh,

thus what man believes in is still the inherent essence of God.

II

In distinguishing whether it's the true way,

first you must see whether it has the Holy Spirit's work,

after which you must look at whether there's truth in this way.

The truth is the life disposition of normal humanity,

which is to say, that which was required of man

when God created him in the beginning,

namely, all normal humanity (including human sense, insight, wisdom,

and the basic knowledge of being man).

That is, you need to see

whether this way can lead man into a life of normal humanity,

whether the truth spoken of is required

according to the reality of normal humanity,

whether this truth is practical and realistic, and whether it's most timely.

III

If there is truth, it's able to lead people into normal and real experiences;

people, furthermore, become ever more normal,

their human sense becomes ever more complete,

their fleshly life and the spiritual life become ever more orderly,

and their emotions become ever more normal.

One other principle is whether or not

people have an increasing knowledge of God,

and whether experiencing such work and truth

can inspire a God-loving heart in them

and bring them ever closer, closer to God.

In this it can be measured whether this way is the true way.

Most fundamental is whether this way is realistic

rather than supernatural, supernatural,

and whether or not it is able to provide for the life of man.

If it conforms to these principles,

the conclusion can be drawn that this way is the true way, is the true way.

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Only Those Who Know God and His Work Can Satisfy God