Bob Yandian - Theology Simplified

Copyright 2021Bob Yandian

Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Published by Harrison House Publishers
Shippensburg, PA 17257

Cover design by Eileen Rockwell

Interior design by Terry Clifton

ISBN 13 TP: 978-1-6803-1729-9
ISBN 13 eBook: 978-1-6803-1730-5
ISBN 13 HC: 978-1-6803-1732-9
ISBN 13 LP: 978-1-6803-1731-2

For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A.
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Foreword

When I was a first-year Bible school student in 1979, Bob Yandian was one of my instructors. Like so many of the students, I always anticipated his classes because we knew that we were going to receive clear, solid, and insightful teaching from Gods Word. A lot has changed since 1979, but Bob still delivers high-quality and high-caliber teaching as he did then.

I was delighted when Bob asked me to review the manuscript for Theology Simplified, and I know it will enrich your life as you read it. I heard it said years ago that the mark of a good teacher is the ability to take what appears to be complex and make it simple. That is what Bob does in this excellent work. I especially appreciate Bobs use of practical illustrations to make various biblical truths easy to grasp and understand.

We live in a day when many seem content to listen to messages that are merely motivational and uplifting, but Bob delivers substantive, Scripture-based teaching. Do not let the term simplified in the title fool you; while he conveys these truths simply, he does not compromise from delivering the meat of Gods Word. He presents essential doctrine in bite-sized pieces, but the life-giving nutrition is all there. Get ready to have your grasp of Scripture strengthened as you enjoy Theology Simplified.

Tony Cooke
Bible teacher and author

Introduction

I heard an argument against the teaching that God desires us to prosper financially in life. The teaching comes from 3 John 2: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The argument was that this verse was not written to us, but to the beloved Gaius (3 John 1), a personal friend of John. Actually, the entire book was written to Gaius. And the entire second epistle of John was written to the elect lady. Should both books be removed from our study list because they were written and dedicated to a particular person?

If this is the case, then both books written by Luke, which were Luke and Acts, were written to his good friend Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). I guess we could even go further and throw out all the epistles because they were written to the citizens of cities we do not live inRome, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, etc. We would not need to study Hebrews unless we are Jewish. After all this, the books and scriptures we would be allowed to study would be the size of a comic book.

So it is with the pastoral epistles1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Although we declare these are written to instruct pastors and other full-time ministers, there is no heading above or introduction to the books declaring this to be so. Apparently, these books are for all of us, and the particular instruction given in 2 Timothy is for every believer:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Words like redemption, justification, glorification, and propitiation may sound theological, but they are not just for theologians. If they are found in the word of God, they are for all believers to know and understand to bring spiritual growth.

Lets take propitiation for an example. The Rolling Stones sang about this word, I cant get no propitiation. The word means satisfaction. God was only temporarily propitiated with the blood of Old Testament sacrifices but was eternally propitiated with the blood of Jesus. Now that I am in Christ, God is eternally satisfied with me. No more sacrifices need to be made.

The eight words we will be studying in this book are complicated, theological-sounding words with simple meanings and definitions. Because we should really all be theologians in our own rights, these words are foundation stones to help make us mature and stable in our daily walk as businessmen, factory workers, students, moms, and dads.

Although this book began as a class to Bible school students, we are all students of the word. Every one of us should be hungry for every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

Chapter One

The Doctrine of REDEMPTION

We Are Born a Mess

The very fact there has to be a redemption, a purchase by God to make us His own, shows us we are a mess from birth. A number of references to our spiritual condition are given throughout the New Testament. First, we are said to be in Adam and need to be transferred to being in Christ. Second, our father is Satan and we need to change families making God our Father. Third, we are said to be spiritually dead and need to be made alive. And finally, we are slaves to sin and Satan needing to be made free.

When you were born into this world, you were born separated from God, spiritually dead. Outside of Jesus Christ, there is no hope for you or anyone else. You may think, Its not my fault. You are rightit was Adams fault, and all the blame goes back to him. For once in your life you can truly say, I was a victim. But here is one good thing about your situation in Adam and Satan. In Adam, you had no choice to be born under a curse. Adam chose for all mankind. But you do have a choice to be taken from the curse and find eternal life. Neither Adam nor Satan gave us a choice, but God is a perfect gentleman and gives us a choice to be redeemed or not. If we choose for God, Satan and all of hell cannot stop us. What reigns as supreme in our salvation and every day afterward is our will. We can choose to accept Jesus and then afterward choose to serve Him daily. We are all sinners by birth. To remain a sinner is also choice.

The Greek words for redemption, the noun apolutrosis and verb exagorazo, both imply the same thing about redemption