This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: - 1 Timothy 1:18-19
Paul exhorts Timothy to "war a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience." I understand the word faith here to be a general term meaning sound doctrine and the word conscience to deal with honesty and integrity. The chief things demanded of those who would preach, teach, or minister the gospel of Christ are these two:
1. That he should hold firmly and boldly to the pure truth of the gospel of God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We shall not - we must not - compromise the gospel of his glory. If righteousness comes by works, laws, or merit, then Christ died in vain. All of grace; all in Christ, is our message.
2. That he shall minister this gospel with a good conscience, serving the Lord God with a sincere and perfect heart. We preach not ourselves but Christ; we seek not yours but you; we covet no man's possessions, praise, or approval. “I know how to be abased and how to abound" (Phil. 4:12). Where these are found, all of the others will follow in due time.
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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