Principle: Some will depart. Departure may be a blessing for the health of the genuine body.

Text: Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth (1 Timothy 4:1-3, ESV). 

Context: Paul wrote to his child in the faith (Timothy) in the mid-60s A.D. Why? To mentor him, to advise him, to impart wisdom in order to shepherd the congregation at Ephesus well. That was the immediate context. Why? Because shepherding the true sheep involves recognizing and guarding against the false believers (wolves).  

Application & Encouragement: Nothing has changed. Tares still reside right alongside the wheat. Why do false converts remain and sow seeds of false doctrine? Because their “consciences are seared” (v. 2). Because their commander is satanic/demonic (v. 1). 

But there remains a blessing in all this. What is it? A sifting of the genuine from the false. There are those “who believe and know the truth” (v. 3). The wise shepherd is to train himself for godliness (v. 7). That training hinges upon discernment and spiritual courage.