Internet Security - Part I

As we all surf the web, we have all learned what an invaluable resource it has become. There are certainly many ways we can all use the internet to help us in our daily lives as well as bringing honor and glory to God. However, along with the power of the internet, there is a great responsibility. Over the next few issues, we will introduce some of the dangers of the internet we all face as well as some basic concepts of keeping our families safe.

The first thing that I have become painfully aware of is the reach of the dangers of the internet. In the last year, I have lost count of the number of ministries and families which have been destroyed in one way or another because of some influence of the internet. Many people immediately think of pornography being brought into the home, office or church. Sadly, this is not the only concern. The people who are abusing the internet are using the craftiness of the devil himself to destroy websites, ministries, adults and children. I have been absolutely shocked at the complete lack of respect some people have for anything or anyone.

What I have also realized is that no one is safe—whether connected to the internet or not. My children have absolutely no idea what the internet is, but I have become all too aware that they are the targets of predators around the world.

Over the next several issues of the Teens-4-Christ Times, we will examine several aspects of internet security:

• The dangers at home, work and school: Basically, we will explain the dangers of the internet in places where you can control as well as how to control these dangers.
• The dangers around the corner: Though many of these dangers are the same, some are not. In all of these dangers, the striking difference is the your lack of ability to control the dangers. We will look at what these dangers are and what practical steps you need to take to protect your family.
• The hidden dangers: The average internet user has no idea of the hidden dangers of the internet. In a recent press release, the FBI revealed that they had documented millions of computers within the boundaries of the United States which have been compromised and are presently being used as a part of one or more ‘Bot-Networks’ (we’ll explain what a ‘bot’ and what a ‘bot-network’ is too!)
• Prevention and protection: Connecting a PC to the internet gives you access to a great wealth of resources, but it also gives you a great responsibility. We will discuss some general steps as well as some critical specific steps you need to take to protect yourself.

Be sure to keep up! We will move quickly. However, if you have any questions about internet security, please contact us!

The Ark Is Closed!

Gen 7:11-16 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (12) And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (13) In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; (14) They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. (15) And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. (16) And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

 

For a long time, Noah has been working on this ark. We can all imagine how the people around him would have mocked him saying, "Where is this flood?" Now, however, the mockers are on the outside looking in. I can imagine they are not mocking now. In my mind, I can see some of them as they play in the rain. They had never seen rain but now water was falling from the sky. I can imagine, as the fountains broke up, that some of them had fear, perhaps realizing everything Noah had told them was true, but it was too late. When they could have accepted salvation by faith, they rejected it. Now, they are seeing the impending judgment and it is too late. The door to salvation has closed.

 

If we compare Noah's day to our own, we can see a lot of parallels…

 

Noah was in a day where the people thought on evil continually. They had little else to do other than to think on evil. Personally, I cannot imagine the evil that must have existed on the earth. Likewise, today, evil seems to be everywhere around us. We cannot turn without seeing evil somewhere or take a step without running into someone who rejects God. Sadly, this is even true within those who call themselves Christians and who to church on a weekly basis.

 

Noah was a preacher, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, telling people they need to get in. Even though he preached, even though he warned the people, the world around him did not heed his warning. When it was time to go into the ark, Noah and his family were the only ones who went in. Think about it: Noah gave the invitation to countless thousands of people, and only a handful responded!

 

Salvation was offered to everyone, but only a few found grace through faith. It is not recorded, but I can imagine different groups in Noah's day. Perhaps there was one group that said, "If you pay your offering to me, I'll make sure you're saved." There may have been another group that said, "We're all basically good people. Surely God will not destroy us all." But I think the most dangerous one was the group who said, "It's ok, we have time." I think this may be the devil's best lie: "You have time, wait until later." The devil is still using that lie today! Again, I can imagine that as the first drops of rain fell, as the wells began to overflow there water, some sat astonished. Perhaps some ran about trying to gather things up and get to higher ground thinking they could escape. I can imagine some crying out, "Quick, let's build a boat so we can escape too." Finally, in my mind's eye, I can see some pounding on the door to the ark, crying, "Let us in, Save us!" As the waters rose, I have no doubt that people were outside the ark crying out, begging to be let in. Noah could do nothing. They had heard his preaching and rejected it. They had their chance. Noah and his family were closed in a boat behind a door they could not open if they wanted too. They were behind a door that the Lord had closed. Noah could not open it if he wanted too.

 

In our day, we are not going to face a flood. God has promised to never destroy the earth by water again. However, there is a call going out! There is a preacher proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Just as Noah was saved by his faith, you can be saved too. Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Noah had faith in a forthcoming messiah. The Lord had not come to the earth and purchased salvation for us all yet, nevertheless Noah had faith. In that faith, Noah obeyed God. Noah did not build the ark to be saved; he built the ark because he was saved.

 

Finally, just as in Noah's day, there is an impending judgment. We do not know the day or the hour, but we know a judgment is coming. Soon, God will call his people out of the earth, the earth will see a new round of judgment. Are you ready?

Salvation, By Faith Alone?

I have been shocked lately to learn that there are actually people out there claiming to be Bible believers yet denying one of the very foundational truths of God. How very sad this is. These are people who do not and cannot enjoy the joy of salvation because they feel they must earn it.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

What is James saying? Is he saying that we must have works to have faith? Of course not! A very simple study where Scripture is compared with Scripture will show the folly of those who believe some action, or works, must be added to faith for salvation.

This passage in James is actually quite simple. If we took this passage and paraphrased it, we might come out with something like, "So, you're saved? Prove it. I can prove I am saved by what I do." I remember, as a child, going with my mother and aunt to a peach farm. They let us (well, them, I was too little) pick the peaches straight off the trees. It makes sense that we would have gone to peach trees to get peaches, right? After all, what if we had showed up to pick peaches, and the farmer pointed us to trees full of apples? Sure, apples may be delicious. Perhaps an apple a day will keep you out of the doctor's office, but an apple is not a peach! If the farmer insisted that apples were growing on a peach tree, we would have insisted he was nuts! Just as apples do not grow on peach trees, evil works do not come out of someone who is saved. Jesus said in Mat 7:15-16: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" James is saying the good works do not save you, but they are an evidence of being saved.

There is one other great, huge, glaring flaw in the theory that someone has to do some good work or be baptized to be saved: The thief on the cross. Remember, this man had no opportunity to be baptized, or to do any 'good work'. The only thing he ever did was believe!

So, how does someone get saved?

Eph 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Salvation is, and always has been a gift from God. From before the foundations of the earth, God saw that man would need to be saved from his sin. In God's timeless view, He saw that a sacrifice would be needed and in that timeless view God determined that the only sacrifice would have to be a perfect, sinless sacrifice.

There are some who contend that the sacrifice of animals paid for the sins of people before the crucifixion of Christ. Though the sacrifice of animals temporarily satisfied God, they did not pay the debt which needed to be paid. These sacrifices were a kaphar or a covering. They only served to placate or appease God temporarily until the ultimate sacrifice was made by Jesus.

If the sacrifice of animals were not sufficient to 'pay' or atone for the sins of these people, what was? How did they get saved? The answer is simple – in fact, you have already read the answer. They were saved by grace through faith. It was their faith in the (from their point of view) coming Messiah, the coming Saviour! How can I prove this?

Gen 22:7-8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Looking forward, at this point where Abraham was preparing to sacrifice his son, Abraham proclaimed that God would provide an offering, in fact, one possible rendering of this passage could be, "God will provide himself as an offering."

But what else is there? Well, Hebrews 11 details many examples of people in the Old Testament who were 'saved by faith! Read it, you will see Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and many others are listed as being justified by faith.

Really, salvation is summed up best in Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast."