WAEC Christian Religious Studies 1997 past questions and answers

After each act of creation "God saw that it was good", and at the end everything was "very good" (Genesis 1:10, 31).

When the Lord appeared to him at Shechem, Abram built there an altar to the Lord (Genesis 12:6-7).

Moses saw the bush burning but not consumed at Horeb, the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1-2).

Sisera commanded Jabin's Canaanite army, which Barak defeated (Judges 4:2, 15).

Eli's failure led to his sons' deaths, the ark's capture and the end of his priestly line (1 Samuel 2:31-34; 4:10-11); the demand for a king came later because of Samuel's sons (1 Samuel 8:1-5).

The northern tribes at once rejected the house of David and made Jeroboam king, splitting the kingdom (1 Kings 12:16-20).

Gehazi's greed for Naaman's silver and clothes brought leprosy on him (2 Kings 5:20-27).

The new covenant would not be like the old one, "my covenant which they broke" (Jeremiah 31:32).

Jesus said, "it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).

The Lamb of God "takes away the sin of the world", like the Passover lamb sacrificed for deliverance (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7).

By entering Jerusalem as the king of Zechariah 9:9 and accepting the crowd's "Hosanna to the Son of David", Jesus openly showed He was the Messiah (Matthew 21:4-9).

When Jesus told the paralytic his sins were forgiven, the scribes said, "It is blasphemy!" (Mark 2:5-7).

In a town that does not receive them they should say, "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you" (Luke 10:10-11).

Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead" (Matthew 17:9).

John says the "rivers of living water" Jesus promised meant the Spirit that believers would receive (John 7:38-39; 4:14).

Jesus said, "if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Matthew 12:28).

Jesus said He could call twelve legions of angels, "But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled?" (Matthew 26:53-54).

Both groups were told to take no purse, bag or extra clothing (Luke 9:3; 10:4).

Jesus told him to wash in the pool of Siloam; he obeyed and came back seeing (John 9:6-7).

Peter said this on the mountain of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:4).

Some went and told the Pharisees, and the chief priests and Pharisees gathered the council and planned to kill Jesus (John 11:46-53).

Jesus asked them, "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26).

The apostles still expected Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom for Israel; He told them instead to wait for the Spirit and be His witnesses (Acts 1:6-8).

Peter said the scripture had to be fulfilled: "His office let another take" (Acts 1:16, 20).

After Stephen's death "Saul was ravaging the church", dragging off men and women to prison (Acts 8:1-3).

Paul means every person, Jew or Gentile, has sinned and failed God since Adam (Romans 3:23; 5:12).

Paul asks believers to avoid selfishness, count others better, look to others' interests and copy Christ (Philippians 2:3-5); he does not say to guard against being taken advantage of.

Paul says "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2).

"The prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up" (James 5:14-15).

Paul wanted to keep him but would do nothing without Philemon's consent (Philemon 13-14).

Paul commands them to "keep away from any brother who is living in idleness" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

"After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace… will himself restore… you"; God called them to eternal glory (1 Peter 5:10; 1:6-7).

(a) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; the earth was without form and void, and the Spirit of God moved over the waters (Genesis 1:1-2).
Day 1: light, separated from darkness — day and night (Genesis 1:3-5).
Day 2: the firmament dividing the waters, called Heaven (Genesis 1:6-8).
Day 3: dry land and seas; vegetation, plants and fruit trees (Genesis 1:9-13).
Day 4: sun, moon and stars for signs, seasons, days and years (Genesis 1:14-19).
Day 5: sea creatures and birds, blessed to multiply (Genesis 1:20-23).
Day 6: land animals; man and woman created in God's image, given dominion and food (Genesis 1:24-31).
Day 7: God finished His work, rested, blessed and hallowed the day (Genesis 2:1-3).
(b) Any two: God is all-powerful — He creates by His word; God is a God of order — He brings order out of chaos; God is good — all He made was good; God is sovereign over all creation; God is loving and provident — He prepared everything before making man and gave him food and authority; God is eternal — He existed before creation.

Give the six days and the seventh in order, then two attributes of God with evidence.

(a) Saul pursued David with 3,000 men; at En-gedi he went into a cave where David and his men were hiding (1 Samuel 24:1-3).
David's men urged him to kill Saul, saying God had given his enemy into his hand (1 Samuel 24:4).
David secretly cut off the skirt of Saul's robe, but his heart smote him; he would not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed and restrained his men (1 Samuel 24:4-7).
After Saul left, David called out, bowed and showed the piece of the robe as proof he meant no harm (1 Samuel 24:8-11).
He left judgement to the Lord (1 Samuel 24:12-15).
Saul wept, said David was more righteous than he, and asked him to swear not to cut off his descendants (1 Samuel 24:16-22).
(Again in the wilderness of Ziph David took Saul's spear and water jar while he slept but refused to kill him: 1 Samuel 26.)
(b) Any two: respect for constituted authority; leave vengeance to God; return good for evil; self-control under provocation; a clear conscience; kindness can soften an enemy.

Narrate one of the two incidents (1 Samuel 24 or 26), then two lessons.

God told Hosea to take "a wife of harlotry", for the land committed great harlotry by forsaking the Lord (Hosea 1:2).
He married Gomer daughter of Diblaim (Hosea 1:3).
Their children were given symbolic names: Jezreel (punishment of Jehu's house), Lo-ruhamah ("not pitied") and Lo-ammi ("not my people") (Hosea 1:4-9).
Gomer was unfaithful and went after her lovers (Hosea 2:2-5).
God told Hosea to love her again although she was an adulteress, as the Lord loves Israel though they turn to other gods (Hosea 3:1).
Hosea bought her back for fifteen shekels of silver and a measure of barley, and told her to stay faithful to him (Hosea 3:2-3).
Demonstration: Gomer's unfaithfulness pictures Israel's idolatry; Hosea's pain pictures God's grief; his buying her back pictures God's redeeming love; God disciplines but does not abandon Israel (Hosea 11:1-9); God promises to betroth Israel to Himself for ever in steadfast love and mercy (Hosea 2:14-20).

Tell Hosea's marriage story, then link each part to God and Israel.

A sower went out to sow (Matthew 13:3).
Some seeds fell along the path and birds devoured them (Matthew 13:4).
Some fell on rocky ground with little soil; they sprang up quickly but were scorched by the sun and withered for lack of root (Matthew 13:5-6).
Some fell among thorns, which grew up and choked them (Matthew 13:7).
Others fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:8).
Jesus' explanation: the path is one who hears but does not understand, and the evil one snatches the word away; rocky ground is one who receives it with joy but falls away in tribulation; thorns are those choked by cares of the world and delight in riches; good soil is one who hears, understands and bears fruit (Matthew 13:18-23).
Lessons (any two): people respond differently to God's word; we should listen and understand; persecution and riches can make people fall away; true believers bear fruit; preachers should keep sowing despite poor response.

Narrate the parable and its explanation, then two lessons.

(a) To a scribe who offered to follow Him anywhere: "Foxes have holes… but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head" — be ready for hardship (Matthew 8:19-20; Luke 9:57-58).
To one who wanted first to bury his father: "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead" — put discipleship first (Matthew 8:21-22; Luke 9:59-60).
To one who wanted first to say farewell at home: "No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" — total commitment without looking back (Luke 9:61-62).
Deny oneself, take up one's cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23).
Hate (love less) father, mother and even one's own life, bear one's cross, count the cost and renounce all one has (Luke 14:26-33).
To the rich young man: sell what you have, give to the poor and follow Me (Mark 10:21).
(b) Explanation of one, e.g. the plough: a ploughman who looks back makes a crooked furrow; a disciple whose heart is divided between Jesus and the old life cannot serve the kingdom properly, so commitment must be full and immediate.

List the demands from Luke 9 and 14, then explain one fully.

(a) Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, fell ill; the sisters sent word to Jesus (John 11:1-3).
Jesus said the illness was for God's glory, and stayed two more days (John 11:4-6).
He told the disciples Lazarus had died and went to Judea (John 11:11-16).
When He arrived Lazarus had been in the tomb four days; Martha met Him and said if He had been there her brother would not have died (John 11:17-21).
Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again"; she thought of the last day (John 11:23-24).
He said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25-26); she confessed Him as the Christ (11:27).
Jesus wept, went to the tomb, had the stone removed, prayed, and cried "Lazarus, come out"; the dead man came out bound (John 11:33-44).
(b) Any two: Jesus has power over death; believers will rise and have eternal life; faith in Jesus is necessary; Jesus sympathises with our sorrow; Christians should not despair at death.

Narrate John 11, then two lessons.

(a) Present your bodies as a living sacrifice; do not be conformed to this world but be transformed (Romans 12:1-2).
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think with sober judgement according to the measure of faith God has given (Romans 12:3).
As one body has many members with different functions, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and members one of another (Romans 12:4-5).
Having gifts that differ according to grace, let us use them (Romans 12:6):
prophecy in proportion to faith; service in serving; the teacher in teaching; the exhorter in exhortation (Romans 12:6-8).
He who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:8).
Let love be genuine (Romans 12:9).
(b) Any two: singing or playing music in church; teaching in Sunday school; helping the needy; using skills (e.g. medicine, carpentry) to serve the community; leadership in youth groups; evangelism.

Explain Romans 12:3-8, then two practical ways.

(a) He rejoiced greatly in the Lord that their concern for him had revived (Philippians 4:10).
He said he was not speaking from want, for he had learnt contentment in plenty and hunger; he could do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:11-13).
He praised them for sharing his trouble, being the only church that shared with him in giving and receiving, even sending help to Thessalonica more than once (Philippians 4:14-16).
He sought not the gift but the fruit that increases to their credit (Philippians 4:17).
He was amply supplied by what Epaphroditus brought — "a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God" (Philippians 4:18).
He assured them, "my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus", and gave glory to God (Philippians 4:19-20).
(b) Any two: giving to the poor, orphans and widows; supporting church and community projects; visiting and helping the sick and prisoners; giving time and skills as volunteers; supporting missionaries and ministers; giving cheerfully and without show.

Describe Paul's joy, contentment and blessing, then two ways of giving.

(a) A personal letter from Paul, a prisoner, and Timothy to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus and the church in his house (Philemon 1-3).
Paul thanks God for Philemon's love and faith and the refreshment he gives the saints (Philemon 4-7).
Though bold enough to command, he appeals for love's sake (Philemon 8-9).
He appeals for Onesimus, whom he has begotten in prison; once useless, now useful (Philemon 10-11).
He sends him back, though he wished to keep him, because he would do nothing without Philemon's consent (Philemon 12-14).
Perhaps Onesimus was parted for a while to be received back for ever, no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother (Philemon 15-16).
"Receive him as you would receive me"; charge any debt to Paul's account (Philemon 17-19).
Paul is confident of Philemon's obedience and asks him to prepare a guest room (Philemon 21-22).
(b) Any two: God forgave us in Christ (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13); Jesus taught that unforgiving people will not be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15); forgiveness restores relationships and brings peace; it shows love; it frees us from bitterness.

Summarise the letter's main points, then two reasons to forgive.