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Full Project – NATURE AND ROLE OF FAITH IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN: A CASE STUDY OF THE LIFE OF AYODELE BABALOLA OF CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

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Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the nature and role of faith in the life of a Christian, using the life of Ayodele Babalola of Christ Apostolic Church as a case study. Joseph Ayo Babalola was the first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called CAC in Nigeria. He was credited with healing powers born on 25 April 1904 at Odo-Owa, Ilofa, in present day Ekiti Local Government areas of Kwara State, Nigeria to the family of late Pa David Lawani Rotimi and Madam Martha Talabi Rotimi. Though he died several decades ago many CAC members still pray with his name. Whenever they pray they add Olorun Joseph Ayo Babalola. That is how much he is reverred by CAC adherents. This is one of the things that got researchers curious about the Life and Times of this great man of God. The late Apostle Ayodele Babalola is one of the greatest men of God that ever tread the face of this earth. He is the founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). Till his death on 26 July 1959 he lived a life worthy of emulation by all Christians around the world. This study take a close look at his early life and ministry with particular reference to his nature of faith. The study makes recommendations based on evidence from existing studies on the life and ministry of the late Apostle Ayodele Babalola.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Faith plays the convincing role in the life of every believer from the Jewish era to the early believer’s era in the New Testament. The bible in (Hebrews 11) begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ”faith,” primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplified faith. Faith is confidence, it gives reality or substance to things hoped for even when they are not visible. Faith does this on all other subjects especially in religion. A belief that there is such a place as heaven leads Christians to act as if it were so. Just like the belief that money may be made in a certain undertaking, leads people to act as if this were so. As long as the faith continues, whether it be well-founded or not, it gives all the force of reality to what is believed. We feel and act just as if it were so, or as if we saw the object before our eyes. Christians do not see the things of eternity, neither do they see God, or heaven, or the angels, or the redeemed in glory, or the crowns of victory, or the harps of praise; but they have faith in them, which make them to act as if they saw them (Barnes, 2000).

When we talk about the nature and role of faith, it is important to acknowledge that “faith cannot be understood, it must be acknowledged”. The nature of faith is such that even a believer is faced with series of questions he cannot offer answers to, but still stands unwavering in his faith on God. While faith plays the motivating role in a believer’s life, it is pertinent to note that “if there must be a sign before believing, then it must be erected not on the basis of the necessity of comprehending faith but on the basis of comprehending that faith cannot be comprehended”. (Gerhard, 1991). St. Paul insists that it is faith in Jesus Christ, rather than observance of the moral, judicial, and ritual precepts of the Mosaic Law, that effects our liberation from the slavery of sin and the dawn of a new life as the adopted sons and daughters of our Father God.

Faith is a venture that turns life into an adventure. Doubts takes an unbeliever nowhere. They are mooring ropes. Believing God means casting off, like ships designed for riding the high seas and going somewhere. Faith inspires. Doubt paralyzes. Faith says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” unbelief does nothing, faith in God is exciting. A close look at the life and ministry of Late CAC Founder, Apostle Ayodele Babalola present a clear example of the role of faith in the life of a believer.

The late Apostle Ayodele Babalola was one of the greatest men of God that ever tread the face of this earth. He is the founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). Born on the 25^th of April 1904 at Odo-Owa, Ilofa, in present day Ekiti Local Government areas of Kwara State, Nigeria to the family of late Pa David Lawani Rotimi and Madam Martha Talabi Rotimi. His father was a devout Christian and was also the founded CMS church at Ilofa/Odo-Owa, the Church was in sixteen other towns then. Babalola was brought up as an Anglican.

Ayodele Babalola’s lifestyle while alive left a landmark of impacts on CAC members till date. This is why even though he passed on several decades ago many CAC members still pray with his name. Whenever they pray they add Olorun Joseph Ayo Babalola. That is how much he is revered by CAC adherents. This is single act has raised a lot of debates among scholars and theologians about the Life and Times of this great man of God. The above motivated a study on the nature and role of faith in the life of a Christian using Ayodele Babalola of CAC as a case study.

1.2 Problem Statement

Man is believed to be a free thinker. He is a moral agent. He is equally endowed with the ability to make choices. All these attributes of man point to the fact that he has the ability to reason. It is in human nature to believe anything it wishes to believe-and of doubting anything it wishes to doubt. But the reason why the world today do not believe God’s word is because it condemns their life practices. They see that the truth calls for a reform and they fight it because they hate the work involved in sanctification. But the Bible was written for people with no real faith. We all begin with a minus. If we have no faith, reading the Bible produces it, and if we have some faith we get more the same way. We don’t acquire faith first and bring it to scripture. Scripture encourages faith as it is written “faith comes by hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Many who don’t believe don’t read the Bible. They are sick and leave the medicine with the bottle tightly corked. Christian walk with God goes hand-in-hand with faith. “And without faith, you cannot please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that he is the rewarder of those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). It is a common in our days that some Christians are dragged into the wrong paths in the name of faith. The scripture states clearly that we should not believe all spirits, but to test them so as to know which of them is of the Lord, (1 John 4:1). What we see today is that Christians only explore faith, but ignore their ability to reason. This challenge calls for urgent attention which is why this study was embarked upon.

1.3 Purpose of Study

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the nature and role of faith in the life of a Christian, to aid the completion of the study, the following specific objectives were formulated:

To explore the nature and role of faith in the life of Ayodele Babalola of Christ Apostolic Church.
To investigate the effect of faith in the life of Ayodele Babalola of Christ Apostolic Church
To evaluate the role of the church in growing the faith of Christians in Christ Apostolic Church

1.4 Significance of Study

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of significant importance to the Christians especially members of the Christ Apostolic Churc (CAC), as the findings intend to spell out the importance and advantages of faith in the life of a Christian. The findings will also be of great importance to the academia as the findings will add to existing literatures on nature and role of faith in a Christian life. And finally the study will be of great importance to students, teachers and the general public.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this study covers an investigation into the nature and role of faith in the life of a Christian with particular focus on the life of Ayodele Babalola of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria, in the cause of the study, there were some factors which tends to hinder the scope of the study:

Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.
Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.7 Research Methodology

The study will examine existing literature on the topic the nature and role of faith in the life of a Christian, with emphasis on developing a model for Christians to follow the lifestyle of Ayodele Babalola, and then draw upon insight gained in developing such a model specifically for Christ Apostolic Church in Nigeria. The researcher will likewise visit scholarly studies on that relates to the research topic, library and works online shall be another great resource, finally, some church leaders from Christ Apostolic Church shall be interviewed in order to have a balance and decisive conclusion on the research work.

The study will therefore, also reflect the fruit of seminars, interviews and other personal interaction. The researcher will not base his conclusion on self-belief or to be subjective on the issue. The final strategy adopted shall be presented with conclusions particularly relevant to the issue of unbelief and faith in Nigeria.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Faith

Faith is confidence or trust in a particular system of religious belief, in which faith may equate to confidence based on some perceived degree of warrant.

Christian faith

It also includes a belief in the New Covenant. According to most Christian traditions, Christian faith requires a belief in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, which he states is the plan of God the Father. The precise understanding of the term “faith” differs among the various Christian traditions.

Christian

A Christian is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

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Full Project – NATURE AND ROLE OF FAITH IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN: A CASE STUDY OF THE LIFE OF AYODELE BABALOLA OF CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

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Full Project – NATURE AND ROLE OF FAITH IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN: A CASE STUDY OF THE LIFE OF AYODELE BABALOLA OF CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

Full Project – NATURE AND ROLE OF FAITH IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN: A CASE STUDY OF THE LIFE OF AYODELE BABALOLA OF CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

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