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		BELIEFS Jesus told a story about a young man who took all his inheritance from his father, left home and squandered the lot on wild parties. Then the only job he could get was looking after pigs for very little pay. As he thought about life he realised how foolish he had been and how much he has lost by leaving his fathers house. He decided to return, confess to his father that he had wronged him and ask if he could return as a servant. However the father ran out to greet him with open arms. He welcomed him back as his son with a party. Jesus told this story to illustrate that we have all wandered away from God, our heavenly Father. If we will simply admit our mistake and return to him he is ready to welcome us home with open arms and forgive us our sins. He will take us back into his love as sons and daughters and give us a place with him for ever in heaven. But how can God do this? Can a football referee simply say, play on, when someone has infringed the rules? Can a judge simply say, Ill let you off, to someone who has committed an offence? No these things would not be just and God is always just. We have broken his laws. The good news is that Jesus has died for us and taken our punishment for us on the cross. God can be both just and merciful in forgiving us no matter what we have done because Jesus has paid the price for us. If I hand you a cheque for $1000 you would have no benefit from it until you took it to the bank and put it in your account. In the same way we must each accept what Jesus has done for us by faith, trusting his death for us, and by giving our lives to follow him as Lord and master. When we do this we are made God's children now and for ever. To explore these truths further you can contact the church to do an Alpha course, borrow a video or a book or simply talk to someone. If you would like help in this way or if you have any questions just ring the office (6254-3821) or email us. Our address is stjs@bigpond.com. Other elements of what we believe are contained in the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed and the Anglican 39 Articles of Religion. See also http://www.christianity.net.au [ About us \| Services \| Ministries \| Ministry Team \| Links \| Beliefs \| Find Us \| Home Page ] © St James Anglican Church, Holt ACT, 2006

BELIEFS

Jesus told a story about a young man who took all his inheritance from his father, left home and squandered the lot on wild parties. Then the only job he could get was looking after pigs for very little pay. As he thought about life he realised how foolish he had been and how much he has lost by leaving his fathers house. He decided to return, confess to his father that he had wronged him and ask if he could return as a servant. However the father ran out to greet him with open arms. He welcomed him back as his son with a party.

Jesus told this story to illustrate that we have all wandered away from God, our heavenly Father. If we will simply admit our mistake and return to him he is ready to welcome us home with open arms and forgive us our sins. He will take us back into his love as sons and daughters and give us a place with him for ever in heaven.

But how can God do this? Can a football referee simply say, play on, when someone has infringed the rules? Can a judge simply say, Ill let you off, to someone who has committed an offence? No these things would not be just and God is always just. We have broken his laws.

The good news is that Jesus has died for us and taken our punishment for us on the cross. God can be both just and merciful in forgiving us no matter what we have done because Jesus has paid the price for us.

If I hand you a cheque for $1000 you would have no benefit from it until you took it to the bank and put it in your account. In the same way we must each accept what Jesus has done for us by faith, trusting his death for us, and by giving our lives to follow him as Lord and master. When we do this we are made God's children now and for ever.

To explore these truths further you can contact the church to do an Alpha course, borrow a video or a book or simply talk to someone. If you would like help in this way or if you have any questions just ring the office (6254-3821) or email us. Our address is stjs@bigpond.com.

Other elements of what we believe are contained in the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed and the Anglican 39 Articles of Religion.