[count-your-change]

I also know that that while correct doesn’t provide a basis for differentiating the sinful command from a Pope from the lawful which was what I asked, “the basis”.

If you say (and I agree):

“No one is ever obliged to obey a sinful command, by anybody. But I think you already know that.”

Then there must be some criteria available to “true believer” so as not to find himself being led into sin or being a rebel or some such.

Yes, it is a philosophical point but at the same time a practical one too.

[Mrs. Don-o]

You know something is sinful on the basis of whether it is or is not against the law of God. That's why we have the Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Gospels, the example and precepts of Christ our Lord and God.

Natural Law --- reason --- iself can convict you of sin because you know some act is contrary to the Law of Love, even if thst act isn't mentioned in Scripture. Such as: the New Testament never explicitly condemns

• sadism/masochism,
• financial ponzi schemes,
• surrogate mother contracts,
• sex-change surgeries,
• targeting noncombatants at war,
• drug addiction, or
• Russian Roulette,

... but we know these things are inconsistent with true love and right reason.

Are there any specifics you were wondering about in particular?