ARM Prison Outreach International
"Ministers’ Minute"
Volume I  Number 9
Greetings in Christ!  This month's MM is more of an outline than a manuscript, from a preacher "new" to MM. Gary Kins writes about the crucial topics of sin, forgiveness, and fellowship in the lives of believers.  We are sending a variety of messages to encourage and stimulate your joy and growth in Christ.   Blessings on you, yours, and your labor for our Lord Jesus!  --- Rod
ARM FEATURED FACT:  ABA BIBLE COURSE STUDENT WRITES
"Thank you for your help when I was in Prison . . helping me learn the word of GOD! I was in your Christian Doctrine course from the American Bible Academy.  I was transferred to 3 other prison before my parole.  Praise GOD I'm back with my family again! I would like to get back into your study program again. I pray that you still have it.  For I have learned A LOT about our LORD GOD though your program and would like to learn more!" --- John, former inmate

The Possibility of Fellowship

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.  -- 1 John 2:12

1. --- I had taught Hunter Safety Education in Wisconsin for fourteen years. I had already violated many of the very rules that I had stressed in my classes.

1) I hadn't gotten in shape before going to hunt Elk in the Colorado mountains.
2) I hadn't taken help when it was offered when it started snowing hard.
3) I had let pride cloud my judgment.
4) I left a familiar trail to strike out through unfamiliar territory.
5) I didn't have my compass.
6) I didn't have my safety kit with space blanket and matches in it with me.
7) I panicked and didn't sit down to assess my situation and plunged into the dark timber.
8) I shot my rifle with the distress signal before it was dark.

I was hopelessly lost on Black Mountain in Colorado and it was getting dark. Then I did something right --

1) Remembered the advice of the veteran hunters in the party not to cross any fences or roads if I got lost.
2) Sat down and rested and assessed my situation.
3) Didn't loosen my clothing or take it off because I was burning up.
4) Stayed on the road when I found one and followed it uphill even when it didn't seem right because I had ascertained the direction of the camp because of the sun and a two track on a hill that I recognized.
5) Found a landmark that I did recognize and found the camp; humiliated but safe.

2. Sometimes, even though we have been Christians for many years, we forget the basics that God gave us to protect us from falling back into the darkness.

3. Our pride gets in our way and we don't know how we got into the tight spot we find ourselves in because of it.

4. We need to just sit down and assess where we are and where we need to go to find our way once again.

5. There is some evidence that John wrote all his writings while on the Isle of Patmos. They were probably written around 90 AD

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. Revelation 1:17-19

A. The things which you have seen --- The Gospel of John - Record of the miracles of Jesus revealing the Divine Power whereby sinners are convicted ( John 20:30,31 ).

B. The Things which are --- The Epistles of John - Record of messages revealing the Divine Pattern whereby the saved are confirmed ( I John 5:13 ).

C. Things which will soon take place -- The Revelation of John - Record of manifestations setting forth Divine Prophecies whereby the saints are comforted (Revelation 22:12-14)

6. John is near the end of his life; an old man; the only apostle who wasn't martyred.

7. Terms of Endearment -- " My little children "-- Light -- Hating your brother -- Darkness

8. Best defense against the perils of darkness - Remembering how our fellowship with God was made possible. Remembering the basics.

9. This verse of scripture reveals the elements of faith that enable us to grow and remain strong in the faith.

I. We Should Remember That We Have Fellowship With God Only Because Our Sins Are Forgiven. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. -- 1 John 2:12

    1. Sin alienates us from God and each other.

        A. Adam and Eve knew that they had lost the close fellowship with God and hid.
        They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. -- Genesis 3:7

        B. Harmony in Eden was broken and they blamed others for their problems. The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." -- Genesis 3:11,12

    2. Sin alters our nature.
        A. Innocence is destroyed.
        The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. -- Ezekiel 18:20,21

        B. Incorruption becomes corrupt through sin.
        That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. -- Ephesians 2:22-24

    3. To taste of sin is to taste death -- sin always brings about death.
    For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 3:20-23 (Jesus has the keys to death and Hades)

    4. Biblical definitions of sin.
        A. Iniquity - twisted, warped -- sin twists us off the proper course set by God.

        B. Sin is missing the mark -- sin causes us to miss the holiness goals God has set for us.

        C. Transgression is rebellion -- sin is rebellion against the Creator.

    5. Biblical means of the destruction of our sin.

        A. Hearing the Gospel of Jesus destroys the interest of sin (at least for the time we are contemplating or remember His claim for our life)

        B. Believing Jesus destroys the pleasure of sin (consequences/wages not fun)

        C. Repentance of our sin destroys the practice of sin. (may fall into sin again but it isn't our practice)

        D. Professing Jesus as Lord destroys our allegiance to sin ( places our loyalty in Him as Lord)

        E. Baptism into Christ destroys the consequences of our sin (baptized into His death)

        F. Consecration (Holy living) destroys the power of sin over us. (doing what is right, true and good occupies our time and helps us avoid temptation)

        G. Acknowledging present sins to God brings cleansing from all sin. (1 John 1:7-9)

    6. Remember That We Have Fellowship With God Only Because Our Sins Are Forgiven.

II. We Should Remember That The Possibility of Forgiven Sins Only Comes Through Jesus. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. -- 1 John 2:12

1. No Alternate Route
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." -Acts 4:12

    2. Substitutionary Death Is His Business

"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:13-15

    A. Redemption from the devil's pawnshop. (redeem us from every lawless deed)
        a. We sold out to Satan's schemes.
        b. Jesus bought us back with His perfect life
        c. He became the substitute for all sinners whether or not they take advantage of it.

    B. Purification for service in God's Kingdom (purify for Himself a people)
        a. Another extension of His grace towards us.
        b. leads us from ungodliness to godliness.
        c. Zeal for good works comes from remembering from whence we came and to Whom we belong.

Conclusion:
1. Any unforgiven sin is death apart from God's grace.
    A. My sin is a little petty thing -- yours on the other hand is...
    B. God surely wouldn't condemn me for such a small sin.
    C. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.  -- James 2:10

2. Adam and Eve: A Shining Example -- Genesis 3
    A. Why such a severe penalty for such a small transgression?
        a. Because of the Simplicity of the Principle involved --
            --Loyalty or disloyalty is not determined by some great act.
            -- Slightest commands involving simple acts are the best tests for obedience.
           --True attitude is revealed by misdeeds whether major or minor.

        b. Because of the Significance of the Command.
           -- Disobedience involved God's claim to authority over them.
            -- The Creator has a right to expect obedience to the created.
            -- Obedience was the outward and sensible sign of right thinking on man's part.

        c. Because of the Seriousness of the penalty.
            -- Penalty imposed should have been warning enough.
            -- We are not at liberty to determine what is and what is not important.

        d. Because of the Condition that disobedience reveals.
            -- Disobedience shows a willful stubborn heart.
            -- Wanted what she wanted when she wanted it - satanic deception and self-indulgence
            -- He blamed God for the temptation -- Self-indulgence and self deception.
            -- Revealed 1)ingratitude, 2) Unbelief, 3) and open rebellion to God.

    B. How then can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

3. You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? -- Galatians 5:7

4. I remind you to remember two things:

    A. Fellowship with God is only possible when our sins are forgiven.

    B. Fellowship with God and forgiveness of our sins are only possible because Jesus made it right.

5. Remember that you buried your old life and sins with Christ in the watery grave of Christian baptism. You were given the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you helping you to live the Christian life. Do not let the accuser bring up your past. It was buried with Christ. (Read Acts 2:37-42)

God has buried your sins in the sea of forgetfulness and placed a sign upon the shore that states NO FISHING -- Corrie Tenboom

6. Remember that your confessed sins are forgiven. Do not let the accuser use your past against you. God remembers them no more. You have been covered by the blood of Jesus. -- 1 John 1:5-10)

If God has buried your sins and remembers them no more, QUIT FISHING, there's nothing there.

G. Arthur Kins

Rod Farthing
ARM Regional Development Director
"Remain faithful unto death .."  Rev. 2:10B