Christian Religious Studies For JSS 1 First Term – A-VIBE BLOG
1.The Sovereignty of God
2.The Creation Story.
3.The Destiny of Man in God’s Creation.
4.Man’s Power in Creation.
5.Marriage: The Christian Marriage.
6.Problems in Marriage: Divorce, Infertility.
7.Disobedience: The First Human Disobedience.
8.Consequences of Disobedience.
9.The Call to Repentance.
10.Paul and the Civil Authority.
11.Revision
12.Examination
WEEK ONE: THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
WHO IS GOD?
God is a Spirit (John 4:24)
God is Supreme Being.
God is the Creator of the Universe (Isa. 45:12, Rev. 4:11)
God is ‘I AM THAT I AM “ (Exod. 3:14)
God is “Alpha and Omega”. The beginning and the ending (Rev. 1:8)God is the Ancient of Days.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1) God is the Lord of all Lords, King of all Kings, the Invisible. The Miracle Worker, The Most High etc. God is also called Yahweh, Jehovah etc.
Any time, we are referring to God, we must use capital letter to start, or else, it will mean that we are referring to smaller gods.
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
The following are the attributes of God
1.God is Eternal: This means that there never was a time when He was not . He is, He was, and forever more He shall be”
2.God is Omniscience: This means that God knows all things (Ps.
3.God is Omnipresent: This means that God is present everywhere, at the same time (Ps. 139:17)
4.God is Omnipotence: This means that He is Almighty God, He is all powerful. He can do all things. (Luke 1: 37)
5.God is Immutable: This means that God cannot change. God is the same yesterday,today and for ever more
6.God is Invincible: This means that God is too strong to be overcome or defeated.
7.God is Holy: This means that God cannot sin.
8.God is Glorious: Holy and fearful in praises, doing wonders, all the time.
9.God is Merciful and He loves to inhabit the praises of His people.
NAMES OF GOD IN DIFFERENT NIGERIAN LANGUAGES
In the Traditional religion, all the various tribes have their own names for God. For example, the Yoruba call God Olodumare. The Igbo call God: Chineke and the Hausa call God Ubangiji. The names tell us that God is the Supreme Being, the source of all life in heaven, and on earth. Some Nigerian names for God in African Traditional Religions.
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WEEK TWO: THE CREATION STORY
BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF CREATION
According to the book of Genesis, in the beginning, God created the heaven and earth. The earth was void, without form and dark, and the spirit of God moved upon the waters.
On the first day, God created light by saying: ‘let there be light’.
Of course, there was light. He therefore, separated light from darkness, and called the light,‘day’ and darkness ‘night’.
On the second day, God created the firmament that is , the heaven or sky. He separated waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament.
On the third day, God created the seas and the earth by separating the waters from the dry land. He called the waters seas; and the dry land, He called the earth. He followed it up by creating grasses, herbs and trees that same day.
On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars to give light to the earth.
On the fifth day, God created all sea creatures as well as the fowls of the earth.He blessed them and ordered them to multiply.
On the sixth day, God created animals of different kinds. He also created man in His own image male and female, He created them Man was made to have dominion over all the things created on earth.
On the seventh day, God rested, blessed it and and made it Holy.
THE SUMMARY OF THE STORY OF CREATION
1st day Light and darkness
2nd day Firmament
3rd day Land, seas, and Vegetation (trees and grasses)
4th day The Sun, Moon, and Stars
5th day Birds and all kinds of seas creatures
6th day All kinds of animals creeping things and man
7th day God blessed this day, called it Sabbath and rested
God commanded man to work for six days, but rest on the seventh day.
WHY GOD CREATED HUMAN BEINGS?
God created man for the following reasons:
1.God created man to procreate,
2.God created man to give Him praises ,worship Him and also serve Him,
3.God created man to rule, subdue and also have dominion over all what He created,
4.God created man in His own image to reign and to also demonstrate His glory,
5.God created man to be His mouthpiece and representative on earth; who will later reign with Him eternally in heaven.
SONGS ABOUT CREATION
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The lord god made them all.
WEEK THREE: THE DESTINY OF MAN IN GOD’S CREATION
Man was created in the image of God after His likeness. Man is thus referred to as “the pyramid of creation”. He is the crown of creation. God gave man power to subdue and have dominion over every created thing. He is equally given the power to be fruitful and multiply.
The special consideration given to man at creation is dignity. When man was created on the sixth day, God felt that man should not be alone and this made God to create a helper for him. “Then the Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Gen 2: 18).
The dignity of man in God’s creation rises every day, the Ten Commandments given to man attest to this. In the fourth commandment, man was asked to remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy. Man has been able to rise in dignity through this.
We go to church on Sabbath and many of us become priests, thereby placing us in the higher position to worship and magnify the work of God. And the priesthood of man started in the garden of Eden which is the garden of God.
We marry today. It is a charge from God and we are elevated in this. When a helper was created for the first man , the man was so overwhelmed that he said “This is now the bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. For this cause, a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh”. (Gen 2: 23-24).
The image of God is shown in terms of human intelligence, creativity, love and care for others. Man is able to reason and distinguish between bad and good in creativity because man can design and mould image like him and many other things that are good for decoration. The love man has for one another emanated from God and we take care of ourselves as God takes care of us from the beginning.
For man to thank God because he realizes that God put him in position of dignity, he offers sacrifices like that of Cain, Abel and Abraham. Even now, man tends to give thanks to God for his mercy.
WEEK FOUR: MAN’S POWER IN CREATION
God created the first man from the dust and made a helper fit for him. Adam called her woman because she was taken from his ribs. God gave Adam powers over all creatures. He told man to rule over the fish, plants, animals and every other creature. God commanded man to be fruitful and multiply over the world. Man thus shared in the creative power of God through different activities such as procreation(bringing new life into being) and the development of material resources of the earth for the benefit of all people.
The first man and woman (Adam and Eve) gave birth to Cain and Abel, and since then we have been multiplying on the earth. When man and woman meet, the woman will conceive for a period of nine month. The child will grow up (male or female) and later produce his/her own offspring, so we can see here that man is also helping God in producing new life.
God delegated man to rule the world and this has made man intellectually aware of his environment. Man is also conscious of life with his emotions and desires and because of power and energy, he is motivated to act. Man has been able to cultivate the land to plant his food. After God has driven man away from the Garden of Eden there was no more free food for him to eat. Man had to find a way of feeding himself and his family. The same thing is happening today.
As a result of intellectual development of man, he is able to develop material resources within his reach. Examples are food production, trees used to make fire to cook his food and other things such as chairs, tables, buildings, books, white board marker etc.
Nowadays, there has been increase in technological development and man is now making cars, aero planes, and trains to carry people from one place to another.
Also, through the G.S.M Phones, one can reach people far away even without physically going there, thereby making communication easier and faster.
WEEK FIVE: MARRIAGE: CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE
DEFINITION AND TYPES OF MARRIAGE
Marriage is a union between a mature man and woman as husband and wife to raise a family. Such union makes them a couple. The Christians understand marriage as oneness of the man and woman that is why they say two persons join together to become one flesh. The Holy Bible makes us to see that they are no more two but one flesh. Marriage also involves a legal relationship between a man and woman as stipulated in the constitution of the country. Marriage was instituted and ordained by God for procreation and fulfillment.
The Christian marriage is the voluntary union of a man and woman according to the Scripture. It was ordained by God. The couple are said to have become one flesh after marriage.
OTHER TYPES OF MARRIAGE
1.Common Law Marriage: This is the type of which has a legal document to back it up. The couple will have to sign the document in a registry in their local environment in the presence of at least two witnesses.
2.Monogamy or Monogamous Marriage: This is the marriage between a man and a woman. Usually, a Christian marriage is expected to be monogamous.
3.Polygamy or Polygamous Marriage: This is the marriage between a man and more than one wife. This means that the man can marry two or more wives.
4.Polyandry: This is kind of marriage which allows a woman to marry more than one husband. This type of marriage is not common, it is only practiced in some parts of the world
5.Homosexual: This type of marriage is arbitrary because it is absurd to common sense. It is the marriage between a man and a man. This marriage does not produce children.
6.Gay Marriage: This type of marriage is also absurd to common sense. It is the marriage between a woman and woman and they cannot bear children.
7.Levirate Marriage: This type of marriage occurs when a man marries the wife of his dead brother. This is a tradition in some part or the world especially in African but the tradition is dying down.
8.Sororate Marriage: This is the type of marriage whereby a man marries the sister of his dead wife.
FUNCTIONS OF MARRIAGE
1.Marriage gives man procreation.
2.It gives continuation in the family name and tradition.
3.Marriage provides companionship.
4.Marriage brings unity among families and different ethnic group.
5.Marriage helps to curb promiscuity and transmission of sexual diseases.
6.Marriage helps the couple to have fulfillment.
7.Marriage helps to propagate and strengthen people’s religion.
8.Marriage brings about cultural development.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MARRIAGE
1.Marriage turns people to parents.
2.Marriage engenders training of children.
3.Marriages strengthen the couple’s relationship.
4.Marriage makes people decent and mature.
5.Marriage makes the couple to combine their efforts for greater results.
3.Polyandry
4.Polygamy
5.Levirate
6.Explain the Christian marriage.
WEEK SIX: PROBLEMS IN MARRIAGE: DIVORCE AND INFERTILITYTOPIC
DEFINITION OF DIVORCE AND INFERTILITY
Divorce is the legal ending of a marriage. In other words it is he legal separation between a husband and his wife usually due to dispute or disagreement. Divorce is a serious problem in Christian marriage and Christian must do everything to avoid it because it interrupts the destiny of man in God’s creation. When a man and his wife are not living together due to disagreement or bad behavior and they have not been to a law court to dissolve their marriage, it is not divorce. It is simply separation.
Infertility is another problem facing marriages. It simply means the inability of either the man or the woman to conceive and bear children. There are many reasons behind this, it can be ill-health, accident, drug abuse, e.t.c.
REASONS FOR UNSTABLEMARRIAGE
1.Poor health
2.Unemployment
3.Poverty
4.Bad behavior
5.Religious differences
6. Family problems
7. Bad friends
8. Drunkenness
9. Insanity
10.Problems from works
REMEDIES FOR UNSTABLE MARRIAGE
1.Putting God first in all issues
2.Mutual understanding
3.True love and trust
4.Guidance and Counseling
5.Good parental influence
6. Searching for godly knowledge
7. Good individual attitudes
8. Obedience to laws
9. Applying wisdom to resolve issues
10.Strong affinity and communication
WEEK SEVEN: DISOBEDIENCE: FIRST HUMAN DISOBEDIENCE. GEN 3:1-24
‘Sin’ means deviation from the laws of good to bad. This means that sin is deviation from right to wrong; doing the things that goes contrary to the laws of nature and laws of God. E.g. stealing, murder, breaking the laws of the land, fighting etc. Sin came into the world as a result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve who disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. Since then, sin has become a major thing in the world.
After the creation Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. God satisfied them with everything but commanded them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil which was in the midst of the garden. They were deceived by the serpent and ate the fruit of the tree.
God cursed them and drove them away from the garden. This is known as the fall of man. Adam was cursed and told to eat from his sweat. The woman as well was cursed and commanded to conceive and bear children in pain. The serpent was also cursed and commanded to crawl on his belly and eat dust of the earth. God put enmity between the serpent and the woman. The general consequences of their sin are death, pain and struggle.
WEEK EIGHT: CONSEQUECES OF DISOBEDIENCE
The Story of Cain and Abel
Adam and Eve bore two children –Cain and Abel. As they grew, they chose their vocations. Cain was a tiller of the ground (farmer) while Abel was a keeper of sheep (shepherd). In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground and Abel brought of the first things of his flocks and of their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering God had no regard and Cain’s countenance fell because of this.(Gen 4:3 – 6)
God accepted and had respect for the offering of Abel. As of that of Cain, He had no regard. As a result, Cain grew annoyed and sought for an occasion to kill his brother. He tricked Abel to go out with him to the field. When they were in the field, Cain rushed at his brother-Abel and killed him in cold blood.
God was angry and asked Cain for his brother, Cain replied “Am I my brother’s keeper? God cursed him and commanded that:
1.He ground was cursed for his sake and never to yield any seed for him.
2.He would be a fugitive and a wanderer.
3.God placed a mark on his forehead so that he would not be killed.
Since then, it appears that sin had been a vice inherited by all human beings. Another act of sin committed by man on earth was murder. It was the first recorded killing-The blood of man is precious before God. He “owns’ the blood, so to shed any human blood is an abhorrence.
As Adam, Eve and Cain received instant punishment for their actions of disobedience and murder so also every man will receive punishment for the sins committed
SAUL’S DISOBEDIENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
(a) Saul’s Obedience I Sam. 10:1-16, 15:1-19
(b) Consequences of Saul’s Disobedience 1 Sam. 15:20-25; 16:14-23; 31: 1-13
(c) Lessons to Learn
(a) Saul’s Obedience
One of the issues we raised in the previous topic was Israel’s decision to meet Samuel at Ramah for the purpose of giving them a king. The Israelites had passed a vote of no confidence on his two sons. Samuel was displeased with such a request as it amounted to rejecting God. However, after many prayer sessions, God finally led Samuel to select Saul, the son of Kish in a very rigorous selection process as the very first king of Israel. Thus Samuel presented Saul to the people, anointed him with oil and kissed him. To confirm that the Lord had actually anointed Saul prince over his people, He gave him three signs which he (Saul) would see when he left him. The signs were:
1.That two men would meet him by Rachel’s tomb and they would inform him that the ass he was seeking for had been found and that his father was anxious to see him.
2.At the plain of Tabor, he would meet three men on their way to Bethel to worship: One carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread and another asking of wine. They would greet him and give him three loaves of bread which he should accept.
3.At the hill of the Lord, he would meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with harp tambourine, flute and lyre. The spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon him. He would prophesy with them and would be transformed.
Samuel instructed him to go to Gilgal and wait there for him as he would go there to offer sacrifice. Thereafter, the spirit of God descended on Saul as he began defeating Israel’s enemies here and there. Infact, I Samuel 10:9 says that “God gave Saul a new heart.”
(b) Saul’s Disobedience – I Sam. 10:1-16; 15:1-19
It was not long after Saul was crowned that he disobeyed God – an act which cost him his throne. God had instructed Saul to wage war against Amalek and “utterly” destroy and not take home any war spoil (booties) or loot, but to utterly destroy everything. As expected, God gave Saul victory over Amalek but rather than destroy everything as instructed, Saul decided to preserve the best animals, clothes and other precious things. To make matter worse, Saul spared and brought home Agag, King of Amalek. Samuel challenged him. He lied to Samuel that he carried out God’s instructions to the letter, not knowing that God had revealed everything to Samuel. Samuel rebuked him and pronounced God’s judgement on him.
Consequences of Saul’s Disobedience – 1 Samuel 15:20-25, 16:14 – 23; 31:1-13
Samuel announced Saul’s rejection as king.
The spirit of God departed from him and an evil spirit came upon him.
Saul and his son Jonathan died in the war with Philistia.
(c) Lessons to Learn
1.The sin of one person can affect another – Saul died with his son.
2.Once we fall out of God’s favour or once we sin, God cannot answer our prayers. Hence, Saul could no longer inquire from him after sinning.
3.God hates lies. We should learn to be truthful, accept our mistakes and pray for forgiveness.
4.We should not shift our blame to others.
5.Disobedience leads to disaster and death.
WEEK NINE: CALL TO REPENTANCE (RECONCILIATION)
RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation: This is the way of reconciling broken relationship.
In order to return to a friendly relationship after an estrangement, the Jews of old offered sacrifices to bring about reconciliation with God. The Israelites sang to God. In the Old Testament, atonement was made to God by means of sacrifices, offerings prayers and repentance. On the day of atonement, the high priest performed a ceremonial rite to cleanse the people from their sins.
The New Testament used the word “Reconciliation” instead of “atonement”. Paul and other Christian preached that Christ made reconciliation between God and man; “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor 15:19)
Man needs reconciliation with God. The story or parable of the prodigal son depicts repentance on the part of the lost son, reconciliation and forgiveness on the part of the father,. The son represents man (the sinner), and his father represents God, the forgiver and reconciliatory.
THE STORY OF JACOB
Esau and Jacob were the two sons of Isaac and Rebekah. They were born twins, but Esau was the elder one. Esau was a hunter while Jacob was a shepherd. Each of the parents loved one of the sons. Esau was much loved by his fathers while Rebekah showed greater love for Jacob. As a result of this divided love, the children suspected each other and each wanted to prove his superiority over the other and how better loved he was.
An opportunity came and Jacob wanted to show Esau that he was superior and more intelligent. Esau came back one day from hunting and was very tired and hungry. He met Jacob preparing a delicious food and begged him for some pottage. Jacob agreed on the condition that Esau must sell his birthright to him. Esau agreed to part with his birthright because of a plate of pottage.
JACOB RECEIVE ESAU’S BLESSING
When Isaac was old, his eyes were dim and he could not see properly One day Isaac called Esau and told him to prepare a delicious meal for him so that he would eat and bless him before he dies. Esau went to the bush to hunt for animals.After he had left, Rebekah quickly called Jacob having heard what Isaac had told Esau. She instructed him on what to do. Jacob was afraid and did not want to deceive their father, but Rebekah encouraged him.
Rebekah took one of the goats from Jacob, she killed it and removed the skin and prepared the meal on his behalf. Rebekah disguised Jacob with the animal’ skin and made him wear Esau’s clothes. When Jacob brought the food to the father, Isaac touched his body and said that the voice was Jacob’s voice, while the body was that of Esau. Eventually Isaac, ate the meal and blessed Jacob. Immediately Jacob left Esau came in and went to his father for the blessings.
He wept bitterly when he discovered that his brother had cheated him He promised to kill his brother but Rebekah sent Jacob to his brother’s house-Laban in Haran.
JACOB’S ATTEMPT AT RECONCILIATION
After twenty years in Haran, Jacob decided to go to Esau and reconcile with him. He sent messengers to Esau in the land of mount Seir, the country of Edom telling him about his arrival. The messengers returned to Jacob with the news that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred soldiers. Jacob divided the people that went with him into different groups.
On the way, Jacob wrestled with an angel and his name was changed from Jacob to Israel. He called the name of the place” Bethel” which means “I have seen the Lord face to face and my life is preserved”. Eventually, he met his brother Esau and bowed himself to the ground seven times for him. He called him Lord and gave him presents of flocks of cattle, sheep, oxen etc. His brother was happy, he embraced him and fell on his neck and they reconciled.
WEEK TEN: PAUL’S TRIAL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
WHO WERE THE SANHEDRINS?
The Sanhedrins were the supreme legal and religious council of the Jews. They deliberate and take decisions on any matter affecting the Jews. They were strong persecutors of the apostles. They were made up of the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes.
THE TRIAL AND DEFENSE OF PAUL (Acts 23:1-16)
After the arrest of Paul, he was brought before the Sanhedrin. During his defence, his arguments annoyed Ananias the high priest and he asked that Paul be slapped. Paul said to him, ‘God shall strike you, you white washed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck.’ Paul however later apologised to the high priest.
When Paul noticed that the Sanhedrin council was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees, he cleverly divided the assembly by declaring that he was persecuted because he taught about the resurrection of the dead. This statement divided the meeting because the Pharisees believed in the resurrection while the Sadducees rejected the belief.
To the Pharisees nothing was wrong with Paul as they said a spirit or an angel might have spoken to him, this further annoyed the Sadducees. The argument continued and the meeting was adjourned. Paul was taken to the barracks.
PAUL BEFORE FELIX
Who was Felix?
Felix was a man of ignoble birth, a freedman who had attained high status of being the governor in Caesarea. This was because his brother Pallas was very influential and a favourite of the imperial court.
His wife was named Drusilla and their interest was strictly based on academics. Though they had little knowledge of Christianity, Felix presided over Paul’s trial.
PAUL’S TRIAL BEFORE FELIX(Acts 24:1-27)
Paul was sent to Caesarea from Jerusalem by Claudius Lysias to Governor Felix for trial. The Jews sent Ananias the high priest, some elders and Tertullus as their spokesman; and they all accused Paul wrongly.Tertullus accused Paul of being a pestilent fellow, an agitator among the Jews, a ring leader of the sect of the Nazarene and defiling the temple. Paul defended himself by saying that he was only persecuted for preaching and worshipping God the way he did, and for teaching the resurrection.
The case was adjourned.
After some days, Felix sent for Paul. Paul spoke boldly about Jesus, justice, self control and future judgement. This got Felix afraid and he sent Paul away and kept on postponing his case hoping that Paul would offer him bribe to be set free.
Two years later, Felix was recalled to Rome and in order to make the Jews happy, he left Paul in prison. Porcius Festus took over as the Governor in Caesarea.
