The Three Sins

St. Ignatius of Loyola was born in 1491 and died in 1556. As he was recovering from injuries from the Battle of Pamplona (1521) he had a conversion experience and became a theologian and founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). In his book Spiritual Exercises he wrote of the three sins; the sin of the fallen angels, the sin of Adam and Eve, and the sin of those who are in hell.

The sin of the fallen angels is best described as the sin of willful rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-14). It is a sin of the desire to exalt self, the sin of pride.

The sin of Adam and Eve is best described as the sin of deception by the lie of Satan, believing the lie rather than the truth of the Word of God (Genesis 3). It is a sin of the desire to fulfill desires apart from following the directions of God's Word. It is the sin of lust.

The sin of those who are in hell is best described as the sin of passive neglect of the things of God. This is seen in Scripture in Luke 12:13-21. Jesus told the parable about the rich fool whose land produced a large harvest. He said to himself, "...what shall I do for I have nowhere to store my crops...I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones...I have stored up for myself ample goods for many years." But Jesus said that God required his soul that night. The rich fool had lived a life of passive neglect toward God. It is the sin of rejection, passively neglecting the things of God.

These three sins can take root in the mind of the believer. One of the most serious problems among the people of God is an unredeemed mind. Our minds need to be saved. When the Holy Spirit gave us the command to put on the full amour of God in Ephesians 6, He said our minds needed the "...helmet of Salvation..." (6:17). He coupled it with the "...sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."

Romans 6 and Ephesians 4:17-24 gives us clear instructions of how our minds can continually be renewed and saved. But the first step in this renewal is to become active with God in the process. God the Holy Spirit is the only one who can save your mind. He does it the same way He saved your soul, at the cross of Jesus Christ through faith in blood, His Life given for you. But He will not do it without you! You must cooperate with Him since He now lives in you.

God will not work with a passive mind; but Satan will.

As you meditate today on the three sins in your life and repent, know that God forgives, cleanses, and makes new what you place before His piercing Word to kill and to raise up with Christ.