WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 1999

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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that he who judges others is like one who neglects the log in his own eyes. This means that a person who is quick to criticize and judge others should first examine their own faults and flaws before pointing out the faults of others. Jesus was teaching that humility and self-reflection are important qualities in individuals and that we should not be quick to condemn others without first examining ourselves.

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In the healing of the leper, Jesus' words show that he respected the Jewish Law. In Mark 1:44, after healing the leper, Jesus told him not to tell anyone, but to show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for his cleansing. This was in accordance with the Jewish Law, which required a person who had been healed of leprosy to present himself to the priest for examination and to offer sacrifices. Jesus' words and actions indicate that he respected the Law and came to fulfill it, not to abolish it.

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According to Paul, the believer in the Lord Jesus is said to be "dead to sin". This means that the power of sin no longer controls or dominates the life of the believer, and they are no longer enslaved to it. Instead, they have been made alive to God and are able to live a new life, free from the bondage of sin. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers have been set free from the power of sin and can now live according to the righteousness of God.

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When the Sanhedrin threatened to kill the apostles for defying them, Gamaliel advised that they be left alone for God to judge. Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, argued that if the apostles' work was of human origin, it would fail, but if it was of God, then nothing could stop it. Therefore, he suggested that the Sanhedrin should not take any action against the apostles, but rather let them be and let time reveal the true nature of their work.

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The eating of the scroll before Prophet Ezekiel was an indication that he must digest what is inside the scroll before communicating it to others. In other words, he needed to internalize and understand the message from God before he could deliver it to the people. It was a symbolic act of taking the word of God into himself, and thus becoming a vessel for God's message to the people. This act demonstrated the seriousness of the task of prophesying and the need for prophets to be fully invested in their role as God's messengers.

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Christians must regard their persecution as a true test of their faith in Jesus Christ. This means that the persecution they face should be seen as a challenge to their faith, and an opportunity to prove their commitment to Christ. The Bible encourages believers to persevere in the face of persecution, just as Jesus did, and to trust that God will reward them for their faithfulness. In this way, persecution is not something to be feared, but rather an opportunity for Christians to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with God.

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The phrase "poor in spirit" comes from a biblical passage in which Jesus is giving a sermon, and he is talking about who will inherit the kingdom of God. "Poor in spirit" means someone who recognizes their spiritual poverty, who recognizes their need for God, and who humbly depends on God for everything. It does not necessarily refer to being poor in terms of material possessions, but it can mean that someone who is poor in material possessions is more likely to recognize their spiritual poverty and dependence on God. So, the correct option is: "poor in worldly possessions yet rich in faith."

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In the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus teaches that the blessings of the kingdom of God are available to all people everywhere. The parable compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that starts as a tiny seed but grows into a large tree that provides shelter for birds. This illustrates that the kingdom of God may seem small at first, but it will grow and provide blessings for all people. The parable emphasizes that the kingdom of God is not limited to a certain group of people but is open to everyone.

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Hosea's message was that unfaithful Israel should return to the Lord for spiritual revival. Hosea was a prophet in the Old Testament who was called by God to preach to the people of Israel, who had turned away from God and were living in sin. His message was that they needed to repent and turn back to God in order to experience spiritual renewal and restoration. Hosea used the metaphor of a broken marriage to describe the relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing that Israel's unfaithfulness was like that of an adulterous spouse. Therefore, Hosea urged Israel to abandon their idolatry and sinful ways and to return to God with sincerity and humility.

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According to the Bible, the walls of Jericho collapsed because God had given the city to the Israelites and instructed them to march around the city for six days with the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, the Israelites were to march around the city seven times, blow their trumpets, and shout. When they did so, the walls of Jericho collapsed, allowing the Israelites to conquer the city. Therefore, it was the divine intervention of God that caused the walls to collapse, not because they were too fragile or due to any decree made by Joshua.

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According to the Bible, when Jesus gave up the ghost, several events took place, including the tearing of the temple veil, the shaking of the earth, and the splitting of rocks. Additionally, it was recorded that the tombs were opened, and many dead saints rose again. However, God did not speak from heaven to confirm the divine sonship of Jesus at that time. The verse in the Bible (Matthew 27:50-54) that records the events that took place when Jesus died mentions the other events but not the one about God speaking from heaven. Therefore, we can conclude that God did not speak from heaven to confirm the divine sonship of Jesus immediately after he gave up the ghost.

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Paul believes that spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the body of Christ, which refers to the collective or corporate life of the church. In other words, these gifts are not just for the benefit of individual members of the congregation but for the betterment of the church as a whole. They are meant to strengthen the church and help it function effectively, as each member uses their spiritual gifts to serve one another and build up the body of Christ.

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In the book of Acts, it is said that Saul was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus, and went to the high priest to ask for authority to arrest all those who belonged to the Way, which was the name given to the early Christian movement. Therefore, the correct option is "pick up at Damascus all who belonged to the Way."

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In the book of Galatians in the Bible, Paul is referring to the idea that before Christ came, people were living under the law and were like children or slaves to it. However, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save people from the law and adopt them as His own children. This means that through faith in Christ, people are no longer bound by the law but are set free to live as children of God, adopted into His family and filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the correct option is "adopted as sons of God".

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In the second account of creation, man was not allowed to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This tree was located in the midst of the garden of Eden, and God had commanded Adam not to eat its fruit. However, the serpent deceived Eve, and she and Adam both ate from the tree, leading to their expulsion from the garden and the introduction of sin and death into the world.

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Elijah called for a contest between him and the worshipers of Baal to demonstrate God's power over the Baals. In this contest, both Elijah and the prophets of Baal prepared sacrifices and called upon their respective gods to send down fire from heaven to consume their offering. The prophets of Baal prayed and danced for hours, but their god did not answer. Elijah, on the other hand, called upon the Lord God of Israel and immediately fire came down from heaven, consumed the sacrifice, and licked up the water in the trench. This showed that God was the true God and that the power of the Baals was nothing compared to Him.

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Isaiah called upon the people of Israel to come to the Lord with holiness and social justice. This means that he was urging the people to live pure and righteous lives, while also caring for those who were vulnerable and marginalized in society. Instead of focusing solely on external religious practices like prayers, offerings, and sacrifices, Isaiah emphasized the importance of inward transformation and outward action that reflected God's values of love and compassion. Therefore, he encouraged the people to approach God with a willing heart, humbly submitting to His will and seeking to do what is right in His sight.

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Ahab, who was the king of Israel in Samaria, married Jezebel.

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The statement made by the centurion during the crucifixion of Christ was a confession of fact. The centurion, who was a Roman soldier, witnessed the events that took place during the crucifixion, including the darkness that covered the land and the earthquake that occurred when Jesus died. As a result of what he saw, he recognized that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and he made this declaration.

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Elijah accused Ahab of troubling Israel because he had been unfaithful to the Lord. According to the Bible, Ahab, the king of Israel, had allowed the worship of idols and false gods, which went against God's commandments. Elijah, a prophet of God, condemned Ahab's actions and warned of the consequences that would follow if the people did not turn back to God. The troubles that Ahab brought upon Israel were seen as a punishment from God for his disobedience.

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According to Luke, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because he predicted the fate that would befall the city. Jesus lamented the fact that the people of Jerusalem did not recognize the time of their visitation and rejected the message of peace that he had brought to them. He foretold the destruction of the city and the temple, and the suffering that would be inflicted upon its inhabitants. Jesus wept out of compassion for the people and the city, and for the judgment that was to come upon them.

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Paul told the Philippians, "Not that I seek gift, but I seek the fruit which increases your credit." This means that Paul was not seeking gifts from the Philippians, but rather he was interested in the spiritual growth and development of the Philippians. Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that giving gifts was not the only way to please God, but it was important to bear fruit that would increase their spiritual credit. In other words, Paul was emphasizing the importance of developing a strong relationship with God and living a life that reflected their faith.

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According to the Jewish faith, non-Jews can share in God's promise to Abraham and his descendants by upholding the faith of Abraham. This means that non-Jews can become righteous and follow the teachings and beliefs of Abraham, which include the belief in one God and the importance of leading a virtuous life. It does not necessarily require non-Jews to obey all the laws like Abraham or to convert to Judaism. Rather, non-Jews can achieve righteousness and be considered righteous in the eyes of God by following the moral principles and values that Abraham embodies.

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The parable of Lazarus and the rich man teaches all of the following except for the idea that the lot of the ungodly is infinite happiness. In the parable, Jesus tells the story of a rich man who lived a life of luxury and a beggar named Lazarus who lay at his gate, covered in sores. Both men died, and Lazarus was carried to Abraham's side in heaven, while the rich man was sent to Hades, where he was in torment. The parable teaches us that our actions in this life have consequences for our eternal destiny. It confronts us with our duty in this life, and it emphasizes the finality of death as far as human destiny is concerned. Therefore, the parable does not teach that the ungodly will experience infinite happiness, but rather that there are serious consequences for how we live our lives on earth.

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In Matthew's account of the annunciation of the birth of Jesus, dream played a significant role in the action of Joseph. According to the Bible, Joseph was engaged to Mary, but when he found out that she was pregnant, he planned to break off the engagement quietly. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and explained that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he should still take Mary as his wife. This dream helped Joseph to understand that the child was special and that God had a plan for him. It also showed Joseph that he had an important role to play in God's plan. So, dream played a significant role in Joseph's decision to take Mary as his wife and raise Jesus as his own son.

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Ezra was a scholar in the study of the Law of Moses. He was a priest and a scribe who helped to lead the Israelites back to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. Ezra was well-versed in the Scriptures and the Law of Moses, which he studied and taught to the people. He played a vital role in the restoration of the Jewish community and their religious practices, which had been disrupted during their exile. Therefore, we can conclude that Ezra was a scholar in the study of the Law of Moses, not the history or politics of Persia, nor the religious law of Hammurabi.

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In this passage, "due time" refers to the time when God will choose to exalt those who have humbled themselves under his mighty hand. It is not specifically referring to the end of the world, Christ's resurrection, or time of retirement, but rather to the time that God has set aside for this particular act of exaltation. It could happen in this life or the next, but it is ultimately up to God's timing and discretion.

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The lesson of the parable of the seed growing secretly is that the kingdom of God grows independent of the will of men. In the parable, a man scatters seeds and they grow without his knowledge or intervention. Similarly, the kingdom of God grows on its own, without human effort or intervention. This teaches that it is not up to humans to determine the growth and success of the kingdom of God, but rather it is a divine process that occurs on its own.

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The miracle of feeding the five thousand by Jesus showed him as a man who could use what he had for the interest of others. He saw that the people who had come to listen to him were hungry and he used the five loaves of bread and two fish that were available to feed everyone. This act of kindness and generosity showed that Jesus cared about the people and was willing to use his resources to help them. It also demonstrated his power and compassion, and gave people a glimpse of his divine nature.

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Jeremiah proclaimed that God's word in his mouth will be like fire that will devour the people for their false claim of innocence. In other words, Jeremiah's message from God would be like a fire that would expose the people's sins and hypocrisy, which they denied, thinking that they were innocent. God's word would be like a fire that would bring judgment upon them, just as fire consumes everything in its path. Thus, the people were warned to repent and turn from their evil ways before it was too late.

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According to the biblical account in Numbers 13-14, Joshua and Caleb were two of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. The other ten spies returned with a negative report, stating that the inhabitants of the land were too strong and the Israelites would not be able to conquer them. However, Joshua and Caleb had a different attitude and believed that with God's help, they could defeat their enemies and take possession of the land. The quality that distinguished Joshua and Caleb from the other spies was their absolute trust in God, which gave them the courage and faith to face the challenges ahead.

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Paul told the Philippians that although Christ Jesus was in the form of God, he did not claim equality with God but was a model of humility. In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul encourages the Philippians to imitate Christ's attitude of humility, who, despite being in the form of God, did not cling to his divine privileges but instead emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant and humbled himself by dying on the cross. Paul is urging the Philippians to have the same mindset as Christ and to consider others as more important than themselves, which is the essence of humility. Therefore, we can conclude that Christ Jesus was a model of humility according to Paul's teachings, not servitude, glory, or honesty.

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God decided to tear the kingdom from Solomon and leave one tribe for him because he had turned his heart away from the Lord. Solomon had started out as a faithful and wise king, but over time, he began to accumulate wealth, power, and wives, which led him to turn away from God's commandments. He started worshipping other gods and idols and engaging in practices that were forbidden by God. As a result, God decided to punish him by taking away most of his kingdom and leaving only one tribe for him to rule over, as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Therefore, the correct option is: "turned his heart away from the Lord."

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According to Paul, the difference between the Philippian church and other churches was that it was the only church that supported him financially. In the New Testament book of Philippians, Paul expressed his gratitude to the Philippians for their partnership in his ministry, saying that they were the only church that had provided for his needs. This support allowed him to continue spreading the gospel and establishing churches in other places.

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Paul did not mention that fathers should emulate their children as one of the roles of members of a Christian family. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul outlined the following roles in a Christian family: husbands should love their wives, wives should be submissive to their husbands, children should obey their parents, and fathers should not provoke their children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The emphasis is on mutual respect and submission within the family, with each member fulfilling their respective roles.

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Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned by the Jewish leaders because they were proclaiming Jesus' resurrection. The Jewish leaders were threatened by the spread of Christianity and did not want this message to continue being shared. Peter and John were seen as leaders of this movement and were therefore arrested to prevent them from spreading this message further.

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God's promise to Abraham and his offspring for a glorious future was tied to his faith and the generosity of God. In the Bible, God promised Abraham that he would make him the father of many nations and that his offspring would inherit the land of Canaan. This promise was not based on any works of the law or any personal merit of Abraham, but rather on his faith and trust in God's goodness and generosity. Despite Abraham's doubts and anxieties, he believed in God's promise and obeyed his commands, which ultimately led to the fulfillment of God's promise through his descendants.

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God remained faithful to His covenant with Abraham when He removed Sarah's barrenness and she bore Isaac. According to the Bible, God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, and this promise was passed down to his son Isaac. However, Sarah was unable to have children, and they both grew old waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled. But God remained faithful and eventually blessed them with a son, Isaac, who would carry on the lineage of Abraham and fulfill God's promise. This act of faithfulness by God showed that He keeps His promises and is always faithful to His covenant with His people.

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In the book of Acts in the New Testament, the seven deacons were appointed by the apostles to take charge of administering relief to the widows in the early Christian community. The apostles wanted to ensure that the needs of the widows were being met fairly and efficiently, and so they chose seven men to oversee this task. The deacons were chosen based on their good reputation, wisdom, and fullness of the Holy Spirit. They were seen as servants of the church, serving the needs of the people, and helping to maintain unity within the community.

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When God threatened to punish anyone who sinned, Moses proved his leadership qualities by atoning for the sins of the people. He interceded on their behalf and pleaded with God to forgive them. He also punished those who had sinned and reprimanded them for their wrongdoings. Overall, Moses took responsibility for the actions of his people and showed compassion and humility in his leadership.

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Paul teaches that the law, which was like a custodian or guardian to lead people to Christ, has been superseded by faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, the law was given to show people their need for a Savior and to point them to Christ. But now that Christ has come and fulfilled the law, believers are no longer under the guardianship of the law, but are saved through faith in Christ.

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