WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 2020 (Essay)

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(a) The steps God took to change a formless earth into a place of life and activity (Genesis 1:1 - 2:3)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep, while the Spirit of God moved over the waters. God then brought order, light and life through the work of six days:

• First day: God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. He separated the light from the darkness, calling the light Day and the darkness Night.
• Second day: God made the firmament (the sky or expanse) to separate the waters above from the waters below, and called it Heaven.
• Third day: God gathered the waters under the heavens into one place so that dry land appeared. He called the dry land Earth and the gathered waters Seas. He then commanded the earth to bring forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees.
• Fourth day: God made the two great lights, the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night, and He made the stars, to give light and to mark seasons, days and years.
• Fifth day: God created the living creatures of the waters and the birds of the air, and blessed them to be fruitful and multiply.
• Sixth day: God made the beasts, cattle and creeping things of the land. Finally He created man, male and female, in His own image, blessed them, gave them dominion over all creatures, and provided plants for their food.
• Seventh day: God finished His work, rested, and blessed and sanctified the seventh day. He saw everything He had made, and it was very good.

(b) Four ways human beings are destroying God's creation

• Deforestation and indiscriminate cutting down of trees, leading to erosion and loss of habitats.
• Pollution of air, water and land through industrial waste, chemicals, sewage and refuse.
• Overexploitation of natural resources and killing of wildlife, including bush burning and poaching, which endanger many species.
• Wars, oil spillage, and gas flaring, together with careless dumping of harmful substances that damage the environment and contribute to climate change.

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(a) How James addressed the subject of prayer (James 5:13-18; also 1:5-8; 4:2-3).

1. James taught that prayer is appropriate for every situation of life: whoever is suffering should pray, and whoever is cheerful should sing praise.
2. Concerning the sick, he directed that anyone who is ill should call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
3. He assured that the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
4. He encouraged believers to confess their sins to one another and to pray for one another, that they may be healed.
5. He declared that the prayer of a righteous person has great power in its effects, that is, it is powerful and effective.
6. He gave Elijah as an example: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain and the earth bore its fruit.
7. Elsewhere James taught that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
8. He warned, however, that one must ask in faith, with no doubting, for the doubter is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind, and such a person should not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.
9. He further warned that people do not have because they do not ask, and that when they do ask, they do not receive because they ask wrongly, to spend it on their passions.

(b) Two roles prayer can play in the life of a Christian.

1. Prayer brings healing, deliverance and restoration in times of sickness and trouble.
2. Prayer secures the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God.
3. Prayer provides divine wisdom, guidance and strength for daily living.
4. Prayer deepens fellowship with God and strengthens faith.

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(a) All that Peter expected from the people when he said, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9-25).

1. Because they were a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God's own people, they were to declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvellous light.
2. They were to remember that once they were not a people, but now they were God's people; once they had not received mercy, but now they had received mercy, and were to live worthy of that mercy.
3. As aliens and exiles in the world, they were to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against the soul.
4. They were to maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that though the Gentiles spoke against them as wrongdoers, they might see their good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
5. They were to be subject, for the Lord's sake, to every human institution: to the emperor as supreme, and to governors sent to punish those who do wrong and praise those who do right.
6. By doing right they were to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
7. They were to live as free people, yet not use their freedom as a cover-up for evil, but to live as servants of God.
8. They were to honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God and honour the emperor.
9. Servants were to be submissive to their masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the overbearing.
10. They were to endure suffering unjustly while doing right, as having God's approval, following the example of Christ, who suffered for them, committed no sin, and when reviled did not revile in return but entrusted Himself to God who judges justly.

(b) Four factors that prevent Christians from doing the will of God.

1. Fleshly desires and sinful passions that war against the soul.
2. Love of the world, wealth and pleasure.
3. Fear of persecution, suffering and rejection.
4. Ignorance of God's word and weak faith.
5. Bad companionship and ungodly influence.
6. Pride and disobedience to constituted authority.

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(a) The circumstances under which Peter was rescued from prison (Acts 12:1-19).

1. About that time King Herod (Agrippa) laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church, and he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
2. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also, during the days of Unleavened Bread.
3. He put Peter in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
4. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
5. On the very night before Herod was to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while sentries before the door guarded the prison.
6. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood beside him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly," and the chains fell off his hands.
7. The angel told him to dress himself, put on his sandals, wrap his cloak around him and follow.
8. Peter followed, not knowing that what was being done by the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
9. They passed the first and the second guard and came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened for them of its own accord. They went out and along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
10. Then Peter came to himself and said that the Lord had sent His angel and rescued him from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
11. He went to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered together praying. A servant girl named Rhoda recognised his voice at the gate and, in her joy, ran in without opening it. The others did not believe her, but Peter continued knocking, and when they opened they were amazed.
12. When day came there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. Herod searched for him, did not find him, examined the sentries and ordered that they be put to death.

(b) Three lessons that can be learnt from the incident.

1. God answers earnest and persistent prayer: the fervent prayer of the church brought about Peter's deliverance.
2. God protects and delivers His faithful servants, even from seemingly hopeless situations.
3. Nothing is impossible with God: chains, guards and iron gates could not hold back God's purpose.
4. The wicked will not go unpunished: Herod, the persecutor, later met a terrible end.
5. Christians should remain calm and trust God even in danger, as Peter slept peacefully in prison.

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(a) The instructions God gave to Joshua on his assumption of leadership over Israel (Joshua 1:1-9).

After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, and charged him with the following instructions:

1. God told him that Moses His servant was dead and that Joshua should now arise and cross over the Jordan, he and all the people, into the land which God was giving to the children of Israel.
2. God assured him that every place the sole of his foot would tread upon had been given to them, as He had promised Moses.
3. He defined the boundaries of the land: from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun.
4. God promised that no man would be able to stand before Joshua all the days of his life, and that as He was with Moses, so He would be with him; He would not fail him nor forsake him.
5. He commanded him to be strong and of good courage, for he would divide the land among the people as an inheritance.
6. He charged him to observe carefully to do according to all the law which Moses commanded him, not turning from it to the right hand or to the left, that he might prosper wherever he went.
7. He told him that the Book of the Law should not depart from his mouth, but that he should meditate on it day and night, so as to do all that was written in it, for then he would make his way prosperous and have good success.
8. God repeated the charge to be strong and of good courage, and not to be afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord his God was with him wherever he went.

(b) Lessons political leaders can learn from Joshua's experience.

1. Leadership is a divine appointment and a call to service. Joshua rose to lead because God appointed him; leaders should therefore see their office as a trust to be discharged faithfully, not as a personal possession.
2. Courage is indispensable in leadership. Political leaders must be strong and courageous in the face of challenges and opposition, rather than being timid or fearful.
3. Leaders must be guided by law and principle. Just as Joshua was told not to turn from the law to the right or left, leaders should govern by the constitution and rule of law, and must not be partial.
4. Meditation on and obedience to God's word brings success. Leaders who reverence God and obey His commands are more likely to prosper and lead their people rightly.
5. Leaders should draw confidence from God's presence. The assurance that God would not forsake Joshua teaches leaders to depend on God rather than on their own strength.
6. Continuity of vision. Joshua took over Moses' unfinished task; leaders should carry forward good policies and complete projects begun by their predecessors.
7. A leader must work with and for the people. Joshua was to lead the whole nation into the inheritance, teaching leaders to seek the welfare of all citizens.

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(a) An account of Solomon's prayer during the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:22-53).

When Solomon had finished building the temple and the ark had been brought in, he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, and prayed:

1. He praised God, declaring that there is no God like the Lord in heaven above or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with His servants who walk before Him with all their heart.
2. He thanked God for keeping the promise made to his father David, that a son of his would sit on the throne and build a house for God's name.
3. He acknowledged God's greatness, asking how God, whom even the heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain, could dwell in a house that Solomon had built.
4. He asked God to hear the prayer that he offered, and that God's eyes might be open toward the temple night and day, toward the place of which God said, "My name shall be there."
5. He prayed that when a man sinned against his neighbour and swore an oath before the altar, God would judge, condemning the wicked and justifying the righteous.
6. He prayed that when Israel was defeated by enemies because of sin, and they turned again and confessed, God would forgive and bring them back to the land.
7. He prayed that when the heavens were shut up and there was no rain because of sin, God would hear from heaven, forgive, and send rain.
8. He prayed that in times of famine, plague, blight, mildew, locust or siege, when anyone spread out his hands toward the temple, God would hear, forgive and act, rendering to each according to his ways.
9. He prayed that the foreigner who came from a distant land because of God's name would also be heard, so that all peoples of the earth might know and fear God.
10. He prayed that when the people went out to battle, and when they were carried captive to an enemy land, if they repented and prayed toward the land, city and temple, God would hear and forgive, and grant them compassion before their captors.
11. He concluded by asking God to keep His eyes open to the pleas of His servant and of Israel, for He had separated them from all peoples as His inheritance.

(b) Three ways leaders can use their resources for the development of society.

1. Leaders can provide social amenities and infrastructure such as good roads, water, electricity, schools and hospitals for the benefit of all.
2. They can build and support places of worship, education and welfare, as Solomon dedicated the temple for the spiritual good of the people.
3. They can create employment and empower citizens through skills training, loans and support for agriculture and industry.
4. They can care for the poor, the widow, the orphan and the needy through relief and welfare programmes.
5. They can promote peace, justice and security so that the society can develop in a stable environment.

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(a) The circumstances that led to Jesus saying, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men" (Luke 5:1-11).

1. As Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, the crowd pressed upon Him to hear the word of God.
2. He saw two boats standing by the lake, for the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3. Jesus got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon Peter, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He then sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
4. When He had finished speaking, He told Simon to put out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch.
5. Simon answered that they had toiled all night and caught nothing, but at Jesus' word he would let down the nets.
6. When they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish, so many that their nets began to break.
7. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help; both boats were filled so full that they began to sink.
8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord," for he and all with him were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners, were also amazed.
9. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

(b) Three factors that prevent people from becoming committed Christians.

1. Love of worldly pleasures and materialism: the pursuit of wealth, comfort and sensual pleasure draws people away from wholehearted devotion.
2. Fear of persecution and ridicule: some fear rejection, mockery or suffering from family, friends or society.
3. Ignorance of the word of God: lack of proper knowledge of the Scriptures leaves people without a firm foundation for commitment.
4. Bad company and ungodly influence: associating with people of low morals weakens one's resolve to follow Christ.
5. Doubt and weak faith: unbelief and half-heartedness prevent people from surrendering fully to God.

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(a) An account of the burial of Jesus as narrated by the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23).

1. When evening had come, and because it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, a rich man of Arimathea named Joseph, a respected member of the council who was himself looking for the kingdom of God and a good and righteous man who had not consented to the council's decision, came forward.
2. Joseph took courage and went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
3. Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked whether Jesus had been dead for some time; when he learned from the centurion that He was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.
4. Joseph bought a linen shroud, took the body down from the cross, and wrapped it in the clean linen cloth.
5. He laid the body in his own new tomb, which had been hewn out of the rock, where no one had yet been laid.
6. He rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb and went away.
7. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Mary the mother of Joses) were sitting opposite the tomb and saw where the body was laid; the women who had come with Him from Galilee then returned and prepared spices and ointments, resting on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
8. In Matthew's account, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate the next day, recalling that Jesus had said He would rise after three days, and asked that the tomb be made secure. Pilate gave them a guard, and they made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.

(b) Three ways money is overspent during funerals in society.

1. Elaborate and expensive coffins and caskets: people spend heavily on costly, ornate coffins to display status.
2. Lavish feasting and entertainment: large amounts are spent on food, drinks, live bands and refreshments for mourners.
3. Buying of expensive uniform cloth (aso-ebi) and mourning attire: families incur great cost on matching clothes and accessories.
4. Renting canopies, halls, hiring photographers, videographers and hearses, and printing costly funeral programmes and posters.
5. Prolonged wake-keeping ceremonies that run for days and consume large sums of money.

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(a) The different ways David resisted taking Saul's life at the wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 26).

The Ziphites had gone to Saul at Gibeah and betrayed David, telling the king that David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah. Saul therefore came down to the Wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David. David sent out spies and confirmed that Saul had indeed come. He arose and went to the place where Saul had encamped and saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, his commander, and the army encamped around him. The account shows David resisting the temptation to kill Saul in the following ways:

1. David asked Ahimelech and Abishai who would go down with him into the camp; Abishai volunteered to go with him.
2. By night David and Abishai came to the sleeping army and found Saul lying asleep within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, while Abner and the people slept around him, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
3. Abishai offered to strike Saul with the spear, pinning him to the ground with one thrust so that he would not need to strike a second time. But David refused, forbidding Abishai to destroy the king.
4. David declared that no one could stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless.
5. He reasoned that Saul's death should be left to God: either the Lord would strike him, or his day would come to die, or he would go into battle and perish. God forbid that David should stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed.
6. Instead of killing Saul, David only took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul's head, and they went away; no one saw or knew it or awoke.
7. From a safe distance on top of a hill, David called out to Abner, rebuking him for failing to guard the king, and showed the spear and jug as proof that he could have killed Saul but spared him.
8. When Saul recognised David's voice and confessed his sin, David asked that his life be as precious in the sight of the Lord as Saul's life had been precious to him that day, and Saul blessed him.

(b) Four benefits one can derive from self-control.

1. Self-control preserves good relationships and prevents needless conflict, quarrels and bloodshed.
2. It earns a person respect, honour and a good reputation in society.
3. It saves one from regret and from the consequences of rash actions taken in anger.
4. It promotes peace of mind and a clear conscience.
5. It draws God's favour and blessing, as it did for David, who was later established as king.