Once someone has professed faith in Christ, is it possible for that person to fall

away from their faith? We'll find out today on Truth for Life as Alistair Begg takes a closer look

at the Apostle Paul's warning and instruction to his young protege, Timothy.

First Timothy chapter 4 in verse 1. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith

and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

For everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

Have nothing to do with Godless myths and old wives tales rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance and for this we labor and strive that we have put our hope in the living God who is the savior of all men and especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things don't let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity until I come to vote yourself to the public reading of scripture to preaching and to teaching.

Do not neglect your gift which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters. Give yourself holy to them so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely.

Persevere in them because if you do you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for your help now in turning to these verses.

You know Lord I long to be clear and I pray that you would save us from confusion or from error both in the way in which we speak or hear that the Spirit of God will be our teacher.

We can't do anything as we ought without your help and so we borrow our heads not out of a sense of routine but out of a deep sense of need.

For if these moments are to mean anything for time or for eternity then it is imperative Lord that you speak by your Spirit through your Word via the mechanism of the voice of a mere man and it's in Jesus' name we pray amen.

We said in the study of the first three chapters that one of the key verses was the 15th verse of chapter 3 Paul had identified the fact that although he was hoping to come and see them there in Ephesus he recognized that his delay was such that this letter would help to answer the question as to how conduct should be in the church of the living God.

And he provided them with a warning in the first chapter concerning the nature of false teachers he then also made some statements regarding his own personal journey of faith he then in chapter 2 provided instructions on worship then in chapter 3 he provided instruction in relationship to the structure of leadership within the church dealing with a matter of elders and with deacons.

When we come to the fourth chapter it is clear that he is if you like narrowed the focus of his impact down to an even tighter radius and he is giving instruction expressly to Timothy whose responsibilities in pastoral ministry are shared with others and yet in some senses unique to him.

And he is telling Timothy as verse 6 makes clear that if he is prepared to do what is referred to in the first five verses then he will prove himself to be a good minister of Jesus Christ and not only in the doing of that but also as verse 11 and following points out if he will command and teach these things with authority albeit with humility but nevertheless with authority.

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