WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 1993

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God's creative ability was manifested by His commanding word prefaced by 'there be.' In the book of Genesis, it is written that God created the heavens and the earth by speaking them into existence. For example, when God created light, He said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Similarly, when He created the sky, He said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water," and it was so. This shows that God's creative power is so great that He can bring things into existence simply by speaking them into being. The phrase "let there be" is a clear expression of God's creative authority and His ability to make something out of nothing.

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When Pharaoh's daughter saw Moses in the basket, she immediately had pity on him. She recognized that he was a Hebrew baby and knew that her father had commanded that all Hebrew baby boys should be killed. Instead of following this command, she decided to take Moses as her own son and raise him as an Egyptian. Pharaoh's daughter showed great compassion and kindness towards Moses, and her actions ultimately saved his life. Therefore, we can say that Pharaoh's daughter had pity on Moses when she saw him in the basket, and this led her to take him in as her own son.

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The King of Judah who witnessed the second deportation was Zedekiah. After the Babylonians had conquered Judah's capital city, Jerusalem, for the first time, they had exiled many of the elite Jews to Babylon, including the young Jehoiachin. Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, was then appointed by the Babylonians as the new king of Judah. However, Zedekiah later rebelled against Babylon, leading to a second Babylonian invasion of Judah. During this invasion, the Babylonians destroyed the temple and much of Jerusalem and exiled even more Jews to Babylon, including Zedekiah himself. Thus, Zedekiah was the King of Judah who witnessed the second deportation.

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The words of Jeremiah "I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion" imply that only a few remnants will return from exile to Jerusalem. These words were spoken to the Israelites when they were facing exile and captivity in Babylon. God promised to bring a small remnant of his people back to their homeland in Zion, which is Jerusalem. The phrase "one from a city and two from a family" suggests that only a few individuals will be chosen from each city and family to return to Zion. Therefore, this passage emphasizes God's faithfulness to his people, despite their disobedience, and the hope of restoration that awaits them.

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Paul's final recorded sermon was delivered at a place called "Antioch". Antioch was an ancient city located in modern-day Turkey. It was a significant center for early Christianity and was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were first called "Christians." In Acts 13:14-52, the book of Acts in the New Testament of the Bible, it is recorded that Paul and his companion Barnabas visited Antioch during one of their missionary journeys. While there, Paul preached a sermon to the people in the synagogue, explaining the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This was one of the last recorded sermons delivered by Paul before his death.

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Amos described true religion as being just and righteous. In the book of Amos, the prophet criticizes the Israelites for their false worship and their lack of justice and righteousness. He condemns their hypocritical religious practices, such as engaging in sacrifice and burnt offerings, and instead emphasizes the importance of doing what is right and just. Amos calls on the people of Israel to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. He reminds them that true religion is not just about external rituals and ceremonies, but also about living a life that is pleasing to God. Therefore, true religion involves doing what is right and just, showing compassion and mercy to others, and walking in humility before God.

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The spiritual gift of hearing is not enumerated by Paul in the first Epistle to the Corinthians. In this epistle, Paul lists several spiritual gifts, including the utterance of wisdom, the gift of healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues, among others. However, the gift of hearing is not mentioned. It's important to note that although Paul's list is not exhaustive, it does provide a good starting point for understanding the variety of spiritual gifts that God can bestow upon individuals to help build up the church and serve others.

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Jesus' charge, "Take heart my son, your sins are forgiven," was given to a sinner. In this story from the Bible, a paralyzed man was brought to Jesus by his friends, but because of the large crowd, they could not get him in front of Jesus. So, they lowered the man through the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart my son, your sins are forgiven."

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The book being referred to in the statement is the book of life. The book of life is a term used in the Bible to describe a book in which God records the names of all those who are saved and have eternal life. It is also sometimes referred to as the Lamb's Book of Life. In the statement, the speaker is asking God to forgive the sins of a group of people and to include them in the book of life. If God chooses not to forgive them, the speaker requests that his own name be removed from the book of life as a sign of solidarity with those who are not forgiven. The statement shows the depth of the speaker's love and concern for others, and their willingness to sacrifice their own salvation for the sake of others.

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The priest and the Levite ignored the injured traveller because they held their ceremonial laws in high regard. According to their beliefs, they were not allowed to touch a dead body or come in contact with blood, which could make them "unclean." So, even if they noticed the injured man, they might have been afraid of breaking these laws and becoming impure. They put their religious beliefs above helping a person in need.

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After Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers, he kissed all his brothers and wept. This emotional scene is recorded in the book of Genesis, where Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers, revealed his true identity to them. Initially, his brothers were afraid and distressed, not knowing how Joseph would react to them. But Joseph reassured them, saying that God had used their evil actions to bring about good. He then wept as he embraced each of his brothers, showing his forgiveness and love for them. This act of kindness and mercy towards his brothers is a powerful example of the grace and compassion that can be found in forgiveness, even after years of betrayal and hardship.

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In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked Christians to rejoice in the face of false accusation because they would be rewarded in heaven. He Himself suffered in a similar fashion, and He knew that false accusation could be discouraging and hurtful. However, Jesus encouraged His followers to not only endure false accusation but also to rejoice in it, knowing that their reward in heaven would be great. This is because when Christians suffer for their faith, they are demonstrating their commitment to Christ and their willingness to endure hardship for His sake. Jesus assured His followers that they would be blessed and rewarded for their faithfulness, even in the face of false accusation. Therefore, Christians can take heart and rejoice, knowing that their suffering is not in vain and that their reward in heaven is assured.

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The example of humility in Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is Jesus taking the form of a servant. In chapter 2, verses 5-8, Paul describes how Jesus, who was in the form of God, emptied himself and took on the form of a servant by becoming human. This act of selflessness and sacrifice is the ultimate example of humility, as Jesus put aside his divine status and willingly served others, even to the point of death on the cross. Paul uses this example to encourage the Philippians to follow Jesus' example and live lives of humility and service to others.

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John was to identify Jesus as the Lamb of God through the descent of the Spirit of the Lord upon Him like a dove. This is the answer because the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 32 says "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." This was a sign that was given to John by God to confirm Jesus as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. The other options mentioned are not directly related to John identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God.

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In the Epistle to Colossians, Paul admonished Christians to put to death earthly things such as fornication, covetousness, impurity, and passion. However, he did not admonish Christians to put to death lowliness. Instead, he urged them to put on virtues such as compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. By urging Christians to put to death earthly things, Paul is encouraging them to turn away from behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to the teachings of Christ and to focus on living a life that is pleasing to God. The list of things to put to death is not exhaustive, but it gives a good starting point for understanding the kinds of behaviors and attitudes that Christians should avoid in order to live a life that is pleasing to God.

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Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus, encouraged Christians to adopt certain attitudes and behaviors. Out of the given options, he did not ask Christians to bear all their anxieties courageously on their shoulders. Instead, he asked them to cast their anxieties on God because God cares for them. In other words, he wanted them to trust in God and believe that He is able to take care of them and their worries. Peter's other teachings included asking young people to clothe themselves with humility, urging Christians to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, firmly resist the devil, recognize that suffering is part of Christian life, and know that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the meek.

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The King of Nineveh commanded his people to abstain from food and pray to God in order to avoid being punished for their sinful behavior.

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King Josiah was commended by the Deuteronomic historians because he discovered a book of the law during the repair of the temple in Jerusalem, and he followed its teachings by purging the land of idolatry and restoring proper worship of God. He also ordered the repair of the temple and celebrated the Passover according to the book of the law. This demonstrated his commitment to the covenant between God and Israel, and his efforts to maintain and promote true worship of God.

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In the mission of the seventy disciples, according to St. Luke, Jesus specifically sent them to every town and place where he was about to go. Jesus wanted his disciples to go ahead of him and prepare the way for his arrival. They were to heal the sick and proclaim the message of the kingdom of God to the people. Jesus wanted the people to know that he was coming to bring salvation and to show them the love of God. Therefore, the mission of the seventy disciples was to be the messengers of Jesus, preparing people's hearts for his arrival and demonstrating the power of God through healing and preaching.

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Jesus condemned empty phrases in prayer because they are a way of showing off in public. He taught his followers to pray with sincerity and humility, and not to pray in a way that would draw attention to themselves. In Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus says, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Here, Jesus is teaching his followers to pray in private and not to make a public display of their prayer. Empty phrases or long prayers do not impress God, as he already knows our needs and desires. Therefore, Jesus condemned empty phrases in prayer as they are a way of showing off in public, and are not in line with the sincere and humble prayer that he taught his followers.

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According to St. Luke, Jesus' prediction concerning Jerusalem during the Triumphal Entry was that "the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (Luke 19:43-44). Therefore, the correct option is that the days were coming when no stone would be left on another in Jerusalem.

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According to the biblical account in 2 Kings 23, God still punished Judah despite Josiah's religious reforms because Judah had committed many sins, including idolatry, shedding innocent blood, and practicing witchcraft. Although Josiah had overturned the religious policies of his father Manasseh and made efforts to eradicate idolatry and restore the worship of the true God, the people of Judah had already gone too far in their disobedience, and their faithlessness had become unpardonable in God's eyes. Additionally, Judah had also sold herself to foreign powers and continued to participate in sinful practices despite Josiah's efforts, leading to God's judgment upon the nation.

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The presence of Moses and Elijah in the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ signifies that Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Moses represents the law given to Israel by God, and Elijah represents the prophets who spoke on God's behalf. The appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus symbolizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and that His ministry is the continuation and fulfillment of God's plan for salvation. It also shows that Jesus is the promised Messiah and that His mission is to bring salvation to humanity. The Transfiguration was a revelation of Jesus' divine glory to His disciples, and it confirmed His authority and mission as the Son of God.

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According to the Epistle to the Galatians, being baptized into Christ means putting on a Christ-like life. This means that when someone is baptized, they are symbolically burying their old self and rising to live a new life in Christ. This new life is characterized by love, compassion, forgiveness, and a desire to follow Christ's teachings. It is not about race, descent from Abraham, rising in corruption, or discrimination between sexes. It is about becoming a new person in Christ and living a life that reflects His teachings and example.

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Whenever Jesus cleansed lepers, he charged them to go and show themselves to the priest. In the time of Jesus, leprosy was a serious illness that made a person unclean and excluded them from the community. The only way for a leper to be considered clean and accepted back into the community was for a priest to examine them and declare them cured. So, when Jesus healed a leper, he instructed them to go and show themselves to the priest as proof of their healing and to be reinstated into the community. By doing this, Jesus was demonstrating not only his miraculous power but also his respect for the religious laws and customs of his time. Therefore, we can say that whenever Jesus cleansed lepers, he charged them to go and show themselves to the priest, as this was the only way for them to be declared clean and welcomed back into the community.

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In his epistle to the Romans, Paul encouraged Christians to use their talents in various ways to serve the Lord. Among these ways, he never advocated thinking of oneself with pride. Instead, he emphasized the importance of thinking of oneself with sober judgement, using our talents in proportion to our faith, making individual contributions liberally, and serving the Lord with cheerfulness. Thinking of oneself with pride can lead to selfishness and a lack of willingness to serve others, which is contrary to the Christian values of humility and service.

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The relevance of the Temptation to the Baptism of Jesus was that both were physical experiences of Jesus at the very beginning of his public ministry. At his baptism, Jesus was publicly recognized as the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him. This event marked the beginning of his ministry, and he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The temptation was a physical and spiritual trial that tested Jesus' faithfulness to God and his commitment to his mission. In Matthew 4:2, it says that Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, and was hungry. The devil then tempted him to turn stones into bread, to test his hunger. Jesus resisted the temptation, and the devil tempted him twice more before leaving him. The Temptation and the Baptism of Jesus were significant events that marked the beginning of his public ministry and demonstrated his faithfulness to God. Therefore, the correct answer is that the relevance of the Temptation to the Baptism of Jesus was that both were physical experiences of Jesus at the very beginning of his public ministry.

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Peter recommends good conduct to Christians who live among unbelievers. This means that Christians should strive to live a virtuous life, following the teachings of Jesus and showing kindness, honesty, and love to everyone around them. Good conduct also includes respecting the laws of the land and authorities, unless they conflict with God's commands. Christians should not engage in self-praise or promote themselves, but rather, their actions should speak for themselves. Passive resistance may be appropriate in some circumstances, but Christians should not seek to overthrow or rebel against the government or other authority figures. Ultimately, Christians should strive to be a positive influence on their communities and demonstrate the love of God in all that they do.

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The reason why Paul was thankful to God whenever he remembered Philemon in his prayer was because of Philemon's love for and faith in Jesus. It is not because of Philemon's lack of forgiveness towards Onesimus, admiration for his runaway slave, or any pretended goodness. Paul appreciated Philemon's devotion to Christ, which likely influenced his willingness to forgive and show love to others, including Onesimus.

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Paul considered himself unfit to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church of God before his conversion. Paul, who was previously known as Saul, had actively persecuted and arrested Christians before his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul says, "For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." Here, Paul acknowledges his past actions and feels unworthy of being called an apostle. However, through the grace of God, he was able to become an apostle and spread the message of Jesus Christ to many people. Therefore, the correct answer is that Paul considered himself unfit to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church of God.

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(a) Josiah's immediate response to the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22)

During the repair of the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law. Shaphan the scribe read it before King Josiah. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes as a sign of grief and repentance, for he realised how far the nation had departed from God's commands and how great was the wrath they deserved.

He immediately commanded Hilkiah, Shaphan and others to go and enquire of the LORD for him and for the people concerning the words of the book. They went to Huldah the prophetess, who confirmed that God would bring disaster on the land because of its disobedience, but that because Josiah's heart was tender and he had humbled himself and wept, he himself would be gathered to his grave in peace and would not see the evil to come. Josiah then gathered all the people, young and old, priests and prophets, to the temple. He read to them all the words of the Book of the Covenant, and standing by the pillar he made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD, to keep His commandments with all his heart and soul. He then carried out sweeping religious reforms, destroying idols and pagan altars and restoring the Passover.

(b) Two ways the religious situation today is similar to Josiah's time

• Just as idolatry and pagan worship had crept into Judah, today many people mix Christianity with idol worship, occult practices and superstition.
• Just as the word of God had been neglected and forgotten in the temple, today the Scriptures are often neglected and God's commandments are widely disobeyed, calling for genuine repentance and reform.

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How Jesus explained separately to Martha and to Thomas that He is the resurrection and the life

To Martha (John 11:17-27): When Lazarus had died and Jesus came to Bethany, Martha met Him and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha, thinking only of the last day, replied, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Then Jesus made the great declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." He then asked her, "Do you believe this?" Martha answered, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." Jesus went on to prove His words by raising Lazarus from the tomb after four days.

To Thomas (John 14:1-6): In the upper room, comforting His troubled disciples before His death, Jesus told them that He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father's house, and that where He was going they knew the way. Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." By this Jesus taught Thomas that He Himself is the living way to God and the source of eternal life; through faith in Him one passes from death to life and reaches the Father.

Thus to Martha He revealed Himself as the resurrection who conquers death, and to Thomas as the life who leads believers to the Father.

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(a) Events in Iconium and Lystra during the first missionary journey (Acts 14:1-20)

Iconium: Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke so effectively that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. The apostles stayed a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the word of His grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands. The city was divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When a plot was made to mistreat and stone them, the apostles became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, and there continued to preach the gospel.

Lystra: At Lystra there sat a man crippled from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul, and Paul, seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." The man leaped up and walked. When the crowds saw it, they cried out in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men." They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, and the priest of Zeus brought oxen and garlands, intending to offer sacrifice to them. When the apostles heard it, they tore their clothes and rushed among the crowd, crying, "Men, why are you doing this? We also are men of like nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God who made heaven and earth." With difficulty they restrained the people from sacrificing. Then Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, won over the crowds, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him dead. But as the disciples gathered round him, he rose and went back into the city, and the next day left with Barnabas for Derbe.

(b) The attitude of the Jews in both places

In both Iconium and Lystra the unbelieving Jews were hostile, jealous and full of opposition to the gospel. At Iconium they stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the apostles and plotted to stone them. At Lystra Jews came all the way from Antioch and Iconium, incited the crowd, and actually stoned Paul and left him for dead. Thus the Jews consistently rejected the message, persecuted the apostles and tried to turn the people against them.

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(a) Paul's teaching on humility in his letter to the Philippians (Philippians 2:1-11)

Paul appealed to the Philippians to be united in love, of one mind and one accord. He urged, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." He then set before them Christ as the supreme example of humility.

Though Christ was in the form of God and equal with God, He did not regard that equality as something to be grasped or held onto. Rather He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. Being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Paul thus taught that true greatness comes through humble self-giving and obedience, and that God exalts the humble.

Two ways a Christian can manifest a life of humility

• By considering others as better than oneself and serving them selflessly rather than seeking personal glory.
• By being obedient to God and submitting to His will, even when it involves suffering or self-denial.

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(a) James' advice to be "doers of the word and not hearers only" (James 1:22-25)

James warns believers not to deceive themselves by merely listening to the word of God without acting on it. To hear the word and do nothing about it is self-deception, for the true purpose of hearing is obedience. A person who only hears but does not obey gains no lasting benefit from the message.

James elaborates the point with an illustration: such a hearer is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, observes himself, then goes away and immediately forgets what he looked like. The word of God functions as a mirror that reveals a person's true spiritual condition, but the careless hearer forgets the reflection the moment he turns away and so makes no correction.

By contrast, the one who looks intently into the perfect law of liberty (the gospel) and continues in it, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, will be blessed in what he does. James further insists that true, undefiled religion is expressed in action: bridling the tongue, visiting orphans and widows in their affliction, and keeping oneself unstained by the world (James 1:26-27).

(b) Two ways a person can live up to this standard

1. Practical charity and service: By caring for the needy, the orphans, the widows and the afflicted in the community, thus putting the teaching of love into concrete action rather than mere profession.
2. Self-control and holy living: By bridling the tongue, controlling anger, keeping oneself unpolluted by worldly vices, and obeying God's commands daily, so that conduct matches confession.

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(a) The experiences of Jonah in the belly of the fish and in Nineveh

In the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17 - 2:10): After Jonah fled from God and was thrown into the sea, the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow him, and he was in its belly three days and three nights. There Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He confessed that in his distress he had cried to God and God had heard him. He described his sinking into the deep, the waters closing over him and weeds wrapping his head, and how his life was brought down to the pit. He remembered the LORD and his prayer came to God in the holy temple. He declared that those who cling to worthless idols forsake mercy, and he vowed to sacrifice and pay his vows, confessing that "Salvation is of the LORD." Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

In Nineveh (Jonah 3): The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, telling him to go to Nineveh and preach. This time he obeyed. Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey across. Jonah entered and proclaimed, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The king rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, sat in ashes, and decreed that man and beast should fast and turn from their evil ways, hoping that God might relent. When God saw that they turned from their evil way, He relented from the disaster He had threatened.

(b) Two lessons Jonah learned

• That no one can successfully flee from the presence of God; God's purpose will prevail.
• That God is merciful and gracious, ready to forgive and spare all who genuinely repent, including even the heathen nations.

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(a) The call of Abram and his response (Genesis 12:1-9)

The LORD said to Abram, "Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." With the call God attached great promises: He would make Abram a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing. God would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him, and in him all the families of the earth would be blessed.

Abram responded in obedience and faith. He departed as the LORD had told him, taking Sarai his wife, his nephew Lot, all their possessions, and the people they had acquired in Haran. He was seventy-five years old when he set out. He journeyed to the land of Canaan and came to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. There the LORD appeared to him and promised, "To your descendants I will give this land." Abram built an altar to the LORD there. He then moved to the hill country east of Bethel, pitched his tent, and built another altar, calling on the name of the LORD. He continued his journey towards the Negeb, going as God directed.

(b) Four ways through which God calls people to His service today

• Through the reading and preaching of the word of God, which convicts and directs individuals.
• Through dreams, visions and special spiritual experiences.
• Through the counsel, advice or influence of parents, ministers and fellow believers.
• Through circumstances of life and inner conviction or the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

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How the Thessalonian Christians should prepare for the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11)

Paul taught that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, suddenly and unexpectedly, and that no one knows the exact times and seasons. Since the Thessalonians were children of light and not of darkness, they should not be caught unprepared like those who sleep. He gave them the following ways to prepare:

• Watchfulness and alertness: They should stay awake and be sober, not sleeping as others do, but keeping spiritually alert and ready at all times.
• Self-control and sobriety: They should live soberly, avoiding drunkenness and the excesses associated with the night.
• Putting on spiritual armour: They should put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
• Holy and blameless living: They should live holy lives, abstaining from sexual immorality and controlling their bodies in holiness and honour, so as to be found blameless at His coming.
• Diligence and honest work: They should not be idle but work quietly with their hands and mind their own affairs, so as to command the respect of outsiders.
• Comforting and encouraging one another: They should not grieve like those without hope over believers who have died, since the dead in Christ will rise first; rather they should comfort and build up one another with these words.
• Constant devotion: They should rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, holding fast to what is good.

In this way they would be ready to meet the Lord and obtain salvation through Him.

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(a) The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)

A certain man had two sons. The younger son asked his father to give him his share of the inheritance. The father divided the property between them. Not many days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a far country, where he wasted his substance in riotous living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that land, and he began to be in want. He joined himself to a citizen who sent him into the fields to feed pigs, and he longed to eat the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, while I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants." So he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and had compassion, ran to him, fell on his neck and kissed him. The son confessed his sin, but the father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate.

The elder son, returning from the field, heard the music and dancing and was angry, refusing to go in. The father came out and pleaded with him, saying, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive, was lost and is found."

(b) How the action of the father illustrates the nature of God

• The father's readiness to welcome back the son shows that God is loving, compassionate and full of mercy toward sinners.
• His running to meet the son and forgiving him fully shows that God is patient and eagerly forgives all who genuinely repent.
• The restoration of the son to full sonship, with robe, ring and shoes, shows that God fully restores the repentant sinner, and the celebration shows the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.