Evil, wrong and sin are there in the life of everyone born into the world. We see this in all the hatred and violence, greed and selfishness in the world. We see it as we look at our own lives, if we are really honest with ourselves. It is part of our very nature. I sin when I fall short of God's standard, and the bible tells us "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

I sin when I do what I want, and this is the cause of our trouble, unhappiness and quarrels. Sin isn't just killing, stealing or telling lies. I sin when I live to please myself rather than God. I sin when I can't be bothered with God or with other people, when I say "I'm my own boss ; it's my life ; I can do what I like with it" - this is sin - I in the middle - me first.

I sin when I do not love god with all my heart. Jesus said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22: 37-8).

Not one of us has loved God like this. we have all broken the great commandment. We are all self-centred rather than God centred, and this sin separates us from God - it forms a barrier between us which we- by ourselves - cannot overcome