To find empirical evidence of sin we need go no further than our own heart. For sin is defined as "transgression of the law" and there is no law apart from God. For those who have ears to hear, the evidence of sin from within us is fourfold: pleasure, legacy, ownership and envy.
The basest part of our carnal existence is pleasure. O man do you not seek to please yourself? Yet we were created to please the Most High, thus our self pursuit of pleasure is the first evidence of spiritual conflict. As Cain, the first born of man, found conflict with God as he sought to please himself, so wilt thou be in conflict with God when you ignore him and seek to please yourself.
Secondly, we are called to seek the Kingdom of God…that is we are to be personally involved in building the Church of Jesus Christ. But fleshly man disregards the kingdom of the spiritual and seeks an earthly kingdom, which by its very nature is doomed to destruction. In vain many who bear the name of Christ seek to build cathedrals, castles, titles and even their own progeny and posterity. These things should not be brethren, for your calling is to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, not in self-pursuit of empty riches, fame and fortune.
The third manifestation of sin in our lives involves ownership. The child of God is not his own, for he has been bought with a price, which is the blood of Jesus Christ. Why wilt thou O man declare self-ownership? Dost thou think that you created and redeemed yourself? Wilt thou make markings upon your flesh as the heathen do? Wilt thou seek out a harlot because you conclude that you can use your body as you please? Repent O sinner, for the deceiver seeks your soul! No man owns himself, for what do you have that you have not received?
Fourthly, sin is clearly manifest in our pursuit, yet lack of contentment. Be not deceived, we are an envious people! Dost thou complain? Dost thou criticize? If so then recognize the root of envy in your fleshly soul. Circumstances do not produce joy, for joy is a product of the endurance of trials in our lives. Contentment only exists in Christ! If thou be a son of man, then you were made in the image of God. Deny this not, for there is no contentment outside of God and no communion with the Father without the Son.
