WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 2007

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The statement "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets" was made by Peter, also known as Simon Peter. He was one of Jesus' disciples and a fisherman by trade. The statement was made in response to Jesus' command to cast their nets into the sea despite their unsuccessful attempt to catch any fish throughout the night. Peter's statement shows his faith in Jesus' words and his willingness to follow His commands even when it may seem futile.

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The man who was forced to carry the cross of Jesus on the way to the crucifixion was Simon of Cyrene. According to the gospel accounts, Simon was a passerby who was compelled by the Roman soldiers to carry the cross for Jesus when he was no longer able to bear the weight of it himself. Simon of Cyrene is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This event is significant in the Christian faith as it highlights the sacrificial suffering of Jesus on behalf of all humanity.

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The correct answer is Zipporah. In the book of Exodus, chapter 2, we are told that Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster and ended up in the land of Midian. There he helped out the daughters of the priest of Midian by watering their flocks, and the priest invited him to his home. Moses stayed with the priest and eventually married his daughter, Zipporah. Later on in Exodus, we see that Zipporah and Moses had a son named Gershom.

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In 1 Peter 5:2, Peter encourages church elders to "shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness." Therefore, Peter is advising elders to willingly and eagerly take care of the members of the church as a shepherd cares for his flock. He stresses the importance of doing so without being forced or motivated by selfish desires, but rather out of obedience to God.

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The phrase "which is yours in Christ Jesus" refers to humility. Paul urged the Philippians to adopt the same attitude of humility that Jesus had demonstrated by leaving his divine glory to become human and suffer death on the cross. Jesus willingly gave up his status and power to serve others, and Paul encouraged the Philippians to follow his example by considering others as more important than themselves and looking out for the interests of others.

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Saul disobeyed God by sparing the life of Agag, the King of the Amalekites. According to the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, God had ordered Saul and his army to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions, including their king. However, Saul did not fully obey God's command and spared the life of King Agag and some of the spoils of war. As a result, God rejected Saul as king and chose David to succeed him.

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The lesson not emphasized by the parable of the Prodigal Son is "God pardons the righteous." The parable, as told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, is a story about a father who has two sons. One son demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and squanders it all. When he comes back, the father forgives him and welcomes him home with open arms. The other son, who stayed with the father and worked hard, is jealous of the attention given to the prodigal son. The parable emphasizes God's love and forgiveness towards sinners who repent and turn back to Him, as seen in the father's reaction to his wayward son's return. It also shows that we should not be jealous or resentful of others who receive forgiveness and grace, as seen in the reaction of the older son. However, the parable does not focus on the idea that God pardons the righteous, as it primarily deals with the return and forgiveness of the prodigal son.

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The prophet who told Naaman to wash himself seven times in the river Jordan was Elisha. In the book of 2 Kings 5, Naaman, a Syrian army commander, had leprosy and was seeking healing. Elisha, the prophet of God, sent a messenger to Naaman instructing him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. Although Naaman was hesitant at first, he eventually followed Elisha's instructions and was healed of his leprosy.

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In Thessalonians, one of the characteristics of the "man of lawlessness" before the second coming of Jesus Christ is that he will claim to be the God above all other gods. This person is described as an opponent of God, who exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, and he will even set himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. This is seen as a sign of the end times and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The passage serves as a warning to believers to be vigilant and discerning in the face of such deception.

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According to James, Christians who are passing through trials for their faith should rejoice. James explains that trials test the faith of believers and produce endurance, and that endurance can lead to maturity and completeness in one's faith. Therefore, believers should view trials as an opportunity for growth and rejoice in the hope that God will use their suffering to develop their faith.

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The condemnation of King Ahab by Elijah was not because of his ascension to the father's throne. Instead, it was because of his worship of Baal and the erection of an altar for Baal, which led to the introduction of false gods among the Israelites, leading them astray from the true worship of God. Elijah sought to bring Ahab back to the true worship of God and condemned his actions which were contrary to the commandments of God.

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The prophet that was referred to as "son of man" was Ezekiel. This title was given to him numerous times throughout the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament of the Bible. It signifies his role as a human messenger of God, delivering His message to the people of Israel. It also highlights the fact that Ezekiel is not just a prophet, but also a representative of all humanity, indicating that the message he delivered was not just for Israel, but for all of humanity.

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When Josiah heard the words of Huldah the prophetess, he tore his clothes in distress and immediately ordered the reading of the book of the law in the hearing of all the people. He also made a covenant to follow the Lord and keep his commandments, and began a campaign to remove all the idols and false gods from the land, including those in the temple. Therefore, Josiah's immediate reaction to the words of Huldah was reading the book of the law and taking action to follow it.

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According to Paul in Romans, Abraham was justified because of his faith in God. In the book of Romans, Paul explains that no one can be justified before God by following the law, but rather through faith in Jesus Christ. He uses Abraham as an example of this principle, saying that Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness, even before he was circumcised or had obeyed any of the commandments. Therefore, it was Abraham's faith in God that justified him, rather than his obedience to the law or his personal goodness.

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When David's son by Bathsheba died, she bore another son called Solomon.

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In his letter to the Philippians, Paul exhorts them to have the same mindset as Jesus Christ. This mindset is characterized by humility, selflessness, and obedience to God. Jesus demonstrated this mindset by emptying himself of his divine status and taking on the form of a servant, ultimately suffering and dying on the cross for the salvation of humanity. Therefore, when Paul tells the Philippians to have the mind "which is yours in Christ Jesus," he is referring to the humble and selfless attitude exemplified by Jesus, which the Philippians should also adopt.

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Josiah's Religious Reforms in Judah led to the removal of the Temple and vessels dedicated to foreign gods. Josiah was a king of Judah who reigned during a time when the nation was experiencing religious and moral decay. He initiated reforms to restore the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. The reforms included removing idols and altars dedicated to other gods from the Temple in Jerusalem and other sanctuaries throughout Judah. Josiah also reinstituted the Passover festival and destroyed places of worship for other gods, such as the high places, Asherah poles, and other images of foreign gods. The reforms were aimed at purifying the worship of Yahweh and turning the nation back to God.

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In this context, "hope" refers to the belief in the promise of eternal life for those who have died in Christ. Paul is telling Christians that they should not grieve as those who have no hope, because they have faith in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life for their loved ones who have died in Christ. Therefore, the "hope" being referred to is the hope of eternal life in Christ.

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In the book of Acts in the New Testament, the converts in Samaria received the Holy Spirit through the laying of hands by the apostles. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the apostles went to different regions to spread the gospel and perform miracles in His name. In Samaria, Philip preached to the people and many believed and were baptized. However, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. When the apostles Peter and John heard about this, they went to Samaria and prayed for the believers, laying their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. This is described in Acts 8:14-17.

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The phrase "this cup" refers to the suffering and death that Jesus knew he would have to endure in order to fulfill his mission on earth. In the Bible, the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, "My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me." He was expressing his human emotions and his desire to avoid the immense physical and emotional pain that he knew he would have to endure. However, he ultimately submitted to God's will and chose to go through with his crucifixion in order to redeem humanity.

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Jesus sent two disciples to the village in Bethphage to bring an ass and a colt. This is mentioned in Matthew 21:1-2, where Jesus instructs two of his disciples to go to the village and find a donkey and a colt tied up, and bring them to Him.

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Shadrach is the person who refused to worship the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar. According to the Bible in the book of Daniel, Shadrach was one of the three Hebrews who were brought to Babylon and served in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. When Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that everyone should worship the image he had set up, Shadrach refused to do so because of his faith in God. As a result, he was thrown into a fiery furnace, but miraculously survived because of God's intervention.

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Paul likened the spiritual gifts received by individual members of the church to the different parts of the human body. In his analogy, he explained that just as each part of the body has its unique function and importance, so also does every member of the church have unique spiritual gifts to contribute to the growth and well-being of the church. He emphasized that no one gift is more important than the other, and that all the gifts are necessary for the effective functioning of the body of Christ, which is the church.

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According to Paul, God sent his son to die for sinners in order to justify the world. This means that through the death of Jesus, God made it possible for people to be made right with Him, to be reconciled to Him and have a restored relationship with Him. It also means that through faith in Jesus, people can be saved and declared righteous, not because of their own works, but because of what Jesus did for them on the cross. In other words, the death of Jesus provides the basis for God to forgive and accept sinners who turn to Him in repentance and faith.

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In James, it is stated that the prayers of the Elders of the church are effective and can lead to healing and forgiveness of sins. This means that when the Elders pray for someone who is sick or has committed sins, those individuals can be healed and forgiven of their wrongdoings. The effectiveness of the Elders' prayers is attributed to their righteousness and faith in God. Therefore, through the power of prayer, individuals can experience spiritual and physical healing and be reconciled with God.

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The Holy Spirit did not say "set apart Paul and Barnabas" on the day of Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in different tongues, and a great wind filled the room where they were gathered. Tongues of fire also rested upon their heads. This event marked the birth of the Christian church, and it is celebrated annually as the Feast of Pentecost. Therefore, the correct answer is "The Holy Spirit said 'set apart Paul and Barnabas'."

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Joshua was a successful leader of his people because he trusted in God. When Moses died, Joshua was appointed to lead the Israelites into the promised land of Canaan. Joshua trusted in God and followed His instructions, which led to many successful military campaigns against their enemies. He demonstrated strong faith and obedience to God, which allowed him to lead his people through difficult times and achieve many victories.

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Ezra was the returned exile who studied and taught the Laws of the Lord with diligence. He was a priest and scribe who played a key role in the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Ezra is described in the Old Testament as a man devoted to the study and teaching of God's law, and he is credited with reestablishing the religious practices of the Jewish people in Jerusalem.

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In John 15:1, Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." This means that Jesus is comparing himself to a vine, and God the Father to a gardener or vine dresser. In this analogy, Jesus is the source of spiritual life and sustenance, and God is the one who tends to him and cares for him, just as a gardener cares for a vine. Just as a vine must be pruned and cared for in order to bear good fruit, so too must we, as followers of Jesus, be willing to be pruned and shaped by God in order to bear good fruit in our lives.

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Saul's sight was restored by Ananias. In the Bible, Saul (later known as Paul) had a vision of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, which left him blinded. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus and was sent by Him to Saul to restore his sight and baptize him. Ananias laid his hands on Saul, and the scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. This event marked the beginning of Paul's ministry as a Christian, and he went on to become one of the most influential figures in the early Christian church.

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The statement "Judge not, that you be not judged" is a warning against hypocrisy. This statement was made by Jesus in the book of Matthew, and it means that we should not be quick to judge others because we, too, are not perfect and have our own flaws. If we judge others without acknowledging our own flaws, we are being hypocritical. Jesus emphasized the importance of dealing with our own faults before pointing out the faults of others. Therefore, we should avoid being hypocritical and focus on correcting our own faults before criticizing others.

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According to the Bible, Joshua was the successor of Moses and led the Israelites into the promised land. However, it is not explicitly stated in the Bible how old Joshua was when he died. Some scholars believe that he may have lived to be around 110 years old, based on a reference in Joshua 24:29-30 where it says that Joshua died at the age of "110 years old" and was buried in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah.

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The name Jezreel given to Hosea's first child was a reference to the revolution of Jehu. Jehu was a king of Israel who led a rebellion against the house of Ahab and Jezebel. The name Jezreel itself was a significant location in Israel, as it was the site of numerous battles and political upheavals. By naming his child Jezreel, Hosea was making a statement about the coming judgment of God upon the house of Jehu and the entire nation of Israel.

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In Philippians, Paul encourages the believers to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. This refers to the attitude of humility, selflessness, and obedience that Jesus demonstrated during his life and especially during his death on the cross. Jesus is presented as the ultimate example of humility, who even though he was divine, did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but instead emptied himself and became a servant to all. Therefore, to have the mind of Christ is to adopt the same humble and selfless attitude towards others.

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The statement "Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,....for mine eyes have seen thy salvation" was made by Simeon. Simeon was a devout and righteous man who was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the purification ceremony, Simeon recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of this promise and uttered this statement of praise and thanksgiving to God.

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According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, God hardened the heart of the Egyptian Pharaoh in order to gain glory over him and show his power to the people of Israel. Pharaoh had refused to let the Israelites go despite being struck by ten plagues, and God wanted to demonstrate His ultimate power and sovereignty over Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods. This ultimately led to the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land.

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When Jesus reached Bethany, He discovered that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. This can be found in the Gospel of John, chapter 11, verse 17. Jesus delayed his arrival in Bethany for two days after receiving news of Lazarus' illness, and by the time he arrived, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. This emphasizes the magnitude of the miracle that Jesus performed by raising Lazarus from the dead, as it was believed that the soul of a person would depart after three days, and there would be no hope of resurrection after that point.

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According to the Bible, when Jesus was crucified, the Roman soldiers who carried out the execution took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each of them. This was because in ancient times, it was customary for the executioners to receive the possessions of the person being executed as payment for carrying out the sentence. Therefore, the soldiers divided Jesus' garments among themselves, as they were his executioners. It was not because of the high quality or because Pontius Pilate ordered them to do so, but rather it was a customary practice at the time.

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Jesus' Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem was a significant event in the life of Jesus because it marked the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah's arrival, which was long-awaited by the Jews. The people of Jerusalem welcomed him with open arms, spreading palm leaves on the road and hailing him as the Messiah, the King of the Jews. This event demonstrated Jesus' humility, as he rode on a donkey instead of a horse, which was the symbol of a conquering king. It also challenged the authority of the Jewish leaders who were threatened by Jesus' popularity among the people. Therefore, the significance of Jesus' Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem was that it fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah's arrival, demonstrated Jesus' humility, and challenged the authority of the Jewish leaders.

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The twelve disciples were advised to respond to any house that did not receive them during their Missionary Journey by shaking off the dust from their feet. This was a symbolic action indicating that they wanted nothing more to do with that household, and it showed that the responsibility for the outcome of the visit was not theirs. The disciples were not to force themselves on anyone, but they were to proclaim the message of the kingdom of God, and if the people rejected it, they were to move on and seek out others who were more receptive.

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(a) How Paul convinced the Galatians that Christians are children of God (Galatians 3:23-4:7)

• Paul taught that before faith came, people were held captive under the law, which acted as a custodian or schoolmaster until Christ came.
• Now that faith has come, we are no longer under that custodian, for in Christ Jesus we are all children of God through faith.
• All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, so that there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ.
• Since believers belong to Christ, they are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise.
• Paul used the image of adoption: formerly the heir, while a child, was no different from a slave, but God sent forth His Son, born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• As proof of sonship, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!"
• Therefore each believer is no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

(b) Two ways Christians should manifest themselves as children of God

• By living holy and obedient lives that reflect their Father, bearing the fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace and self-control.
• By showing genuine love and unity toward one another, treating all believers as brothers and sisters regardless of race, status or gender.

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(a) Paul's message on justification (Romans 3:21-31; 4; 5:1; Galatians 2:16)

• Paul taught that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, so none is righteous before Him by his own effort.
• No one is justified (declared righteous) by the works of the law, because the law only makes people conscious of sin; through the law comes knowledge of sin, not deliverance from it.
• Justification is a free gift of God's grace, offered apart from the law and undeserved by the sinner.
• It is received by faith in Jesus Christ, whom God set forth as a propitiation (sacrifice of atonement) through His blood.
• By His death and resurrection, Christ paid the penalty for sin, so that the guilty who believe are accounted righteous before God.
• Paul used Abraham as his example: Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, before circumcision and before the law, proving that righteousness comes by faith.
• Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and boasting in oneself is excluded.

(b) Two conditions for the attainment of justification

• Faith in Jesus Christ: genuine belief and trust in Christ and His atoning death and resurrection.
• The grace of God: justification is God's free, unmerited favour, received through repentance from sin and not earned by works.

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(a) According to Paul, the signs of the parousia (second coming) (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)

• The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet of God.
• The dead in Christ will rise first, then those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
• The day of the Lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, when people say "peace and safety."
• Before that day, there will be a great rebellion (apostasy) or falling away from the faith.
• The man of lawlessness (son of perdition) will be revealed, exalting himself above God and taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
• He will come with the power of Satan, with pretended signs and wonders and wicked deception, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by His appearing.

(b) Three lessons relevant to Christians

• Believers should be watchful and always ready, living as children of light and not being caught unprepared like those in darkness.
• Christians should live holy, sober and upright lives, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation.
• They should comfort and encourage one another with the hope of the resurrection and reunion with the Lord, and not grieve like those who have no hope.

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(a) The roles of Joseph of Arimathea and the women in the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

Joseph of Arimathea:

• He was a rich, respected member of the Council (Sanhedrin) and a secret disciple of Jesus who had not consented to the Council's decision.
• As evening came, he went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
• Pilate, after confirming that Jesus was dead, granted the body to him.
• He bought fine linen, took the body down from the cross, and (with Nicodemus, who brought myrrh and aloes) wrapped it in the linen cloth with the spices.
• He laid the body in his own new tomb, hewn out of rock, and rolled a great stone against the entrance.

The women:

• Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joses and other women who had followed Jesus from Galilee watched where the body was laid and sat opposite the tomb.
• They prepared spices and ointments to anoint the body, then rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

(b) Three ways Joseph's action was significant

• It showed courage and open commitment: a once-secret disciple now identified publicly with the crucified Jesus.
• It gave Jesus a decent and honourable burial, sparing His body the disgrace of a criminal's grave.
• It fulfilled prophecy that the Messiah would be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9), and provided the empty tomb that later confirmed the resurrection.

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(a) How David reacted to the assassination of Abner (2 Samuel 3:22-39)

• Abner, Saul's former army commander, had come in peace to hand the kingdom over to David, and David had sent him away safely.
• Joab, David's commander, secretly recalled Abner and murdered him at the gate of Hebron to avenge the death of his brother Asahel.
• When David heard of it, he publicly declared that he and his kingdom were forever innocent of Abner's blood before the LORD.
• He pronounced a curse upon Joab and his father's house, that they should never lack sufferers of disease, violent death and want.
• He commanded Joab and all the people to tear their clothes, put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.
• David himself walked behind the bier in the funeral procession and wept aloud at the grave.
• He composed and sang a lament over Abner, mourning that he had died like a fool though he was not a criminal.
• He fasted, refusing to eat any food until sunset, which pleased all the people and convinced them the king had no part in the murder.

(b) Two lessons that can be learnt

• Treachery and murder are evil and must be openly condemned, even when the culprit is a close and powerful associate.
• A good leader must be transparent and just, publicly dissociating himself from wrongdoing so as to keep the trust and confidence of the people; also, God repays evildoers according to their deeds.

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(a) Mary's encounter with Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38)

• In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary, betrothed to Joseph of the house of David.
• Gabriel greeted her: "Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you."
• Mary was greatly troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
• The angel told her not to be afraid, for she had found favour with God.
• He announced that she would conceive and bear a son whom she should name Jesus; He would be great, called the Son of the Most High, and given the throne of His father David, reigning over the house of Jacob forever, with a kingdom that would have no end.
• Mary asked how this could be, since she had no husband (was a virgin).
• Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her; therefore the child would be holy, the Son of God.
• As a sign, he told her that her kinswoman Elizabeth had also conceived a son in her old age, for with God nothing is impossible.
• Mary answered, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word," and the angel departed.

(b) Two significant points in Mary's reply

• Her humility: she described herself as the lowly handmaid (servant) of the Lord, showing self-effacing submission.
• Her faith and total obedience: she accepted God's will unconditionally, saying "let it be to me according to your word," trusting God despite the risk and mystery.

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(a) Peter's description of Christians as "a Chosen Race and a royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9-10)

• Peter applied to the church the titles once given to Israel, teaching that believers now enjoy this special standing through Christ, the living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God's sight.
• "A chosen race": Christians are a people specially selected and set apart by God, no longer defined by natural birth or nationality but united by faith in Christ; once they were no people, but now they are God's people.
• "A royal priesthood": every believer, not just a special class, has direct access to God and is called to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, and to share in the kingship and priestly ministry of Christ.
• "A holy nation": they are a people consecrated and separated for God's service, called to be holy as He is holy.
• "God's own people": a people for His possession, redeemed by the blood of Christ and recipients of His mercy.
• The purpose of this calling is that they may declare (proclaim) the wonderful deeds (excellencies) of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvellous light.

(b) Two examples in a Christian's daily life supporting this description

• Proclaiming God's praises and witnessing: the Christian shares the gospel and speaks well of God through evangelism, prayer, worship and testimony.
• Living a holy life of good works: the believer maintains pure conduct among unbelievers, offering himself and his service as a spiritual sacrifice, so that others may glorify God.

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(a) How the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was tested in Babylon (Daniel 3)

• King Nebuchadnezzar set up an enormous golden image on the plain of Dura and issued a decree that at the sound of music everyone must fall down and worship it.
• Anyone who refused to bow was to be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.
• Certain Chaldeans accused the three Hebrews before the king, reporting that they neither served his gods nor worshipped the golden image.
• Nebuchadnezzar, in fury, summoned them and gave them a second chance to bow, threatening the furnace and asking which god could deliver them from his hand.
• They boldly replied that their God was able to deliver them, but even if He did not, they would still not serve the king's gods nor worship the image.
• Enraged, the king ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter; it was so hot that the soldiers who cast them in were killed by the flames.
• The three fell bound into the fire, yet the king was astonished to see four men walking unbound in the flames, the fourth like a son of the gods.
• They came out unharmed, not a hair singed, no smell of fire on them; the king blessed their God and promoted them.

(b) Four cultural practices contrary to the Christian faith in our society

• Idol worship and worship of ancestral gods.
• Consulting oracles, diviners, witchcraft and juju.
• Human sacrifice and the killing of twins.
• Harmful widowhood rites and forced female genital mutilation.

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(a) How Herod opposed the early church (Acts 12:1-19)

• King Herod (Agrippa I) laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church in order to persecute them.
• He had James the brother of John killed with the sword, making him the first apostle to be martyred.
• Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter during the days of Unleavened Bread.
• He put Peter in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard, intending to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
• Peter was chained between two soldiers, with sentries before the door, but the church prayed earnestly for him.
• The night before the trial, an angel of the Lord appeared, the chains fell off, and the angel led Peter out past the guards and through the iron gate that opened by itself.
• Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where believers were praying, and reported his deliverance.
• When Herod could not find Peter, he examined the sentries and ordered them put to death.

(b) Two consequences of this opposition

• Peter was miraculously delivered by an angel, showing God's protection over His church, and the guards responsible were executed by Herod.
• Herod himself was struck dead: when he accepted the crowd's praise as a god and did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him and he was eaten by worms and died, while the word of God continued to grow and multiply.

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(a) The covenant promises God made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15; 17)

• God promised to make Abraham a great nation.
• God promised to bless him and make his name great, so that he would be a blessing.
• God promised him numerous descendants, as countless as the stars of the sky and the sand of the seashore.
• God promised to give him and his descendants the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession.
• God promised to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him.
• God promised that in Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed.
• God promised to be God to him and to his descendants, an everlasting covenant, with kings coming from him; circumcision was given as the sign.

(b) Three ways the promises are significant to Christians

• Abraham is regarded as the father of faith: Christians are counted his spiritual children and heirs of the promise through faith in Christ.
• The promise of blessing to all nations is fulfilled in Christ: through Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, salvation has come to all peoples, including Gentiles.
• It assures Christians of God's faithfulness: as God kept His covenant with Abraham, believers are confident He will keep His promises to them, and are taught justification by faith rather than by works of the law.

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(a) The event portraying Jesus as the "Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:1-44, the raising of Lazarus)

• Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, fell sick, and the sisters sent word to Jesus that the one He loved was ill.
• Jesus deliberately stayed two more days where He was, saying the sickness was for the glory of God, and by the time He set out Lazarus had died.
• On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
• Martha met Him and said that if He had been there her brother would not have died, yet she believed God would grant whatever He asked.
• Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live," and asked whether she believed; she confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of God.
• Deeply moved and weeping, Jesus came to the tomb, a cave with a stone across it, and ordered the stone taken away, despite Martha's warning of the odour after four days.
• He lifted His eyes, thanked the Father, then cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
• The dead man came out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and Jesus told them to unbind him and let him go; many who saw it believed.

(b) Two lessons that can be drawn

• Jesus has power over death: He is the giver of life and can raise the dead, so death is not the end for those in Him.
• Faith in Christ brings eternal life: whoever believes in Him, though he die physically, will live forever, giving believers hope and comfort in bereavement.

Détails de la réponse

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