WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 1989 (Essay)

Answer Details

Characteristics of Christian life in the community (1 Peter)

Peter, writing to believers scattered as strangers and pilgrims, describes how they should live together and among unbelievers. The marks of Christian community life he sets out are:

• Holiness: "As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct," for it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." Believers must abstain from the sinful desires of their former life.
• Brotherly love: having purified their souls, they should love one another earnestly from a pure heart, showing sincere affection within the fellowship.
• Unity and sympathy: Peter urges them to be of one mind, having compassion, loving as brethren, being tender-hearted and courteous, not returning evil for evil but blessing instead.
• Submission to authority: they should obey civil rulers, and servants should respect their masters, doing good to silence ignorant accusations.
• Good conduct before outsiders: they should keep their behaviour honourable among the Gentiles so that unbelievers may glorify God.
• Humility: all should clothe themselves with humility toward one another, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble; the younger should submit to elders.
• Patient endurance of suffering: they should not be surprised at fiery trials but rejoice to share Christ's sufferings, entrusting themselves to a faithful Creator.
• Sober watchfulness and prayer: being sober and vigilant because the devil prowls like a roaring lion, and being fervent in prayer.
• Hospitality and service: using their gifts to serve one another as good stewards of God's grace, and offering hospitality without grumbling.
• Faithful spiritual leadership: elders should shepherd the flock willingly, not for money, and not as lords but as examples.

In sum, Peter presents a community distinguished by holiness, love, humility, submission, good works and patient hope in the midst of a hostile world.

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(a) The resurrection and Jesus' appearance to the women (Matthew 28:1-10)

As the Sabbath ended, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow, and the guards trembled and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." He then commissioned them, "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him." With fear and great joy the women ran to bring the news to the disciples.

On the way, Jesus Himself met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came, held His feet, and worshipped Him. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." Meanwhile the guards reported to the chief priests, who bribed them to spread the lie that the disciples had stolen the body.

(b) Significance of the resurrection to Christians

• It proves that Jesus is the Son of God and that His claims are true.
• It is the foundation of Christian faith; without it, as Paul says, faith is vain.
• It guarantees the forgiveness of sins and the believer's justification.
• It assures Christians of their own resurrection and eternal life.
• It shows Christ's victory over sin, death and the devil.
• It gives hope, courage and joy, and forms the basis of the Christian gospel and mission.

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(a) Circumstances that led Daniel into the lion's den (Daniel 6)

Under Darius the Mede, Daniel was one of three presidents set over one hundred and twenty satraps. Because an excellent spirit was in him, Daniel distinguished himself so greatly that the king planned to set him over the whole realm. This provoked jealousy among the other presidents and satraps, who sought a charge against him. They could find no fault or corruption in him, for he was faithful, so they concluded, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except concerning the law of his God."

They therefore tricked the king into signing an irrevocable decree, under the law of the Medes and Persians, that for thirty days anyone who prayed to any god or man except the king should be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel, knowing the decree was signed, continued his practice of praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem, giving thanks to God as before. His enemies caught him in prayer and reported him. Though the king was distressed and laboured until sunset to deliver him, he was bound by his own law and reluctantly ordered Daniel cast into the den, saying, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so Daniel was found unhurt in the morning. The king then cast his accusers into the den, where the lions overpowered them.

(b) Two lessons from this episode

1. Faithfulness to God even under threat: we should remain loyal to God and continue our devotion regardless of hostile laws or danger.
2. God delivers and vindicates the righteous: God protects those who trust Him, while the wicked are trapped by their own evil schemes.

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(a) Paul's teaching on the use of individual talents (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12)

Paul teaches that every believer has been given gifts by the grace of God, and that these gifts differ from one person to another. He uses the picture of the human body: just as the body has many members with different functions, yet forms one body, so believers are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. No member should think itself more important than another, and none is useless.

His main points are:

• Gifts come from God's grace: talents are not earned but graciously given, so no one should be proud or think of himself more highly than he ought.
• Gifts are diverse: Paul lists prophecy, ministry (service), teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership (ruling) and showing mercy, as well as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, tongues and their interpretation.
• Gifts are for the common good: the same Spirit distributes them for the profit of all and the building up of the church, not for selfish display.
• Each gift should be used diligently and in its proper measure: he who teaches should teach, he who gives should give with liberality, he who leads should lead with diligence, he who shows mercy should do so with cheerfulness.
• Interdependence and unity: the members should care for one another so that there is no division in the body.

(b) Two ways this teaching applies to Christian living today

1. Serving the church with one's abilities: Christians should identify and use their talents (singing, teaching, giving, administration, evangelism) to build up the church rather than burying them or seeking self-glory.
2. Humility and cooperation: believers should appreciate the gifts of others, avoid envy and pride, and work together in unity, recognising that every member matters in God's work and in society.

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(a) The story of Joseph and his rise to leadership in Egypt (Genesis 37-41)

Joseph was the favourite son of Jacob in Canaan, marked out by the coat of many colours and by two dreams in which his brothers and parents bowed before him. Out of envy his brothers plotted against him; when he came to them at Dothan they stripped him of his coat, cast him into a pit, and sold him to Ishmaelite (Midianite) traders for twenty pieces of silver. They dipped the coat in goat's blood and told Jacob a wild beast had devoured him.

In Egypt Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard. God prospered him and he was made overseer of the whole household. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, Joseph refused, saying, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" She falsely accused him and he was thrown into prison. Even there the Lord was with him and the keeper put all the prisoners under his charge.

In prison Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker: the butler would be restored and the baker executed, which came to pass. Two years later Pharaoh dreamed of seven fat and seven lean cows, and seven full and seven withered ears of corn, which none could interpret. The butler remembered Joseph, who was brought before Pharaoh. Joseph explained that the dreams foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and advised that a wise man be appointed to store grain. Pleased, Pharaoh said, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" He set Joseph over all Egypt, second only to himself, giving him his ring, fine linen and a gold chain. Thus Joseph rose from slave and prisoner to prime minister of Egypt.

(b) Two leadership qualities in Joseph

1. Wisdom and foresight: he planned ahead by storing grain during the years of plenty to save the nation from famine.
2. Integrity and self-control: he resisted Potiphar's wife and remained faithful and God-fearing even under temptation and injustice.

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(a) Paul's teaching on the ideal family relationship (Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1)

Paul sets out a Christian household in which each member has clear duties, all rooted in reverence for Christ and mutual submission: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

• Wives and husbands: Wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, and as they love their own bodies, nourishing and cherishing them. Marriage reflects the union of Christ and the church.
• Children and parents: Children should obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right, and honour their father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise. Fathers should not provoke their children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
• Servants and masters: Servants should obey their earthly masters sincerely as serving Christ, and masters should treat servants justly, without threatening, knowing that they too have a Master in heaven who shows no partiality.

The ideal is a home marked by love, respect, obedience, discipline and fairness, ordered under the lordship of Christ.

(b) Three areas in which many families have deviated from this teaching

1. Breakdown of love and submission between spouses: quarrels, unfaithfulness, domestic violence and divorce have replaced love and mutual respect.
2. Neglect of children's upbringing: many parents fail to discipline and give godly instruction, while some provoke or abuse their children, and many children disobey and dishonour their parents.
3. Injustice and disregard of duties: employers/masters oppress and cheat those under them, and workers/servants serve unfaithfully; the fear of God is often absent in family and household dealings.

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(a) The source of Solomon's wisdom and how he misused it (1 Kings 3; 11)

Source: After Solomon became king he loved the Lord and offered a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon. There God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give you." Instead of asking for long life, riches or the death of his enemies, Solomon asked for "an understanding heart to judge the people, that I may discern between good and bad." This request pleased God, who granted him a wise and understanding heart such as none before or after him, and added riches and honour. Thus the source of his wisdom was a divine gift from God in answer to a humble and unselfish prayer. His wisdom was displayed in the judgement between the two harlots claiming one child, and it drew the Queen of Sheba to test him with hard questions.

How he misused it: In his later years Solomon turned from the very God who gave him wisdom.

• He married many foreign wives and had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, contrary to God's command.
• His wives turned his heart after other gods; he built high places for Chemosh, Molech and Ashtoreth and worshipped idols.
• He imposed heavy taxes and forced labour on the people to fund his lavish building projects, breeding discontent.
• He loved luxury and self-indulgence, using his God-given gifts for personal glory rather than God's honour.

Because of this God was angry and declared that the kingdom would be torn from his son and divided.

(b) Four lessons from this misuse

1. Gifts and talents should be used for God's glory, not for selfish or sinful ends.
2. No one is above falling; even the wisest can be led astray by wrong company and lust.
3. Disobedience and idolatry attract God's judgement.
4. We must guard against the corrupting influence of ungodly friends and marriages, and remain faithful to the end.

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(a) The election of a successor to Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26)

In the days between the ascension and Pentecost, about one hundred and twenty believers gathered together in Jerusalem. Peter stood up among them and explained that the Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who had guided those who arrested Jesus. Judas had bought a field with the reward of his wickedness and there met a terrible end; the field was called Akeldama, the Field of Blood. Peter cited the Psalms: "Let his habitation be desolate" and "Let another take his office (bishopric)."

Peter then set out the qualification for the replacement: he must be one of the men who had accompanied them all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, from the baptism of John until the day Jesus was taken up, so as to be a witness of the resurrection. Two men met this condition: Joseph called Barsabas (surnamed Justus) and Matthias.

The believers then prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell." They cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven apostles, restoring the number to twelve.

(b) Two lessons from this incident

1. Seeking God's guidance in decisions: the church prayed and sought God's will before choosing a leader, teaching us to depend on God in appointments and important decisions.
2. Leadership carries qualifications and accountability: a leader must have genuine experience and integrity, and unfaithfulness (as with Judas) leads to loss of position and honour.

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(a) The healing of the nobleman's son and the role of faith (John 4:46-54)

Jesus returned to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned water into wine. A certain nobleman (a royal official) whose son lay sick at Capernaum heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee. He travelled to Him and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was at the point of death.

Jesus first tested and rebuked the tendency to depend on signs, saying, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." The nobleman, undeterred, pleaded again, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus then said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke and departed, without any visible proof.

As he was going down, his servants met him with the news that his son was living. When he asked at what hour the boy had begun to recover, they said, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father realised it was the very hour when Jesus said, "Your son lives." As a result, he himself believed, together with his whole household. This was the second sign Jesus did after coming from Judea into Galilee.

The role of faith in the miracle:

• The nobleman came to Jesus in the first place out of faith that Jesus could heal his son.
• His faith was tested when Jesus did not go with him but only spoke a word of healing.
• He believed the mere word of Jesus and acted on it by going home, showing faith without physical evidence, the kind of faith Jesus commended.
• His faith grew and became complete when the miracle was confirmed, spreading to his entire household.

The account teaches that Jesus honours faith that trusts His word, and that genuine faith leads to further and deeper belief.