To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. committed...: Gr. put in us - 2 Corinthians 5:19
This phrase declares the ministry of reconciliation which God has given to faithful preachers. It declares the author, means, subjects, and consequences of that work. In the person of his dear Son, God was actually providing himself a lamb, a ransom, and an atonement. He did not charge our sins to us, but to Christ, having made Christ to be sin for us.
The word “world” does not mean that Jesus Christ effectually bore the sins of every son of Adam and reconciled every person to God by his death. If this be the case, no one would be finally lost. He reconciled the “world” in the sense that he actually redeemed a people out of every kindred, nation, and tongue, not of the Jews only!
John Owen said, “If Christ died for all of the sins of all men, then all men would be saved; if Christ died for some of the sins of all men, then no one would be saved; but in that he died for all of the sins of some men, then some will truly be saved.”
This ministry of reconciliation, substitution, and satisfaction has been committed to faithful preachers, and we will preach it. We dare not preach any other message. Inasmuch as Christ is our righteousness, God does not call upon us to produce a righteousness, but to receive his perfect righteousness by faith. Inasmuch as Christ is our surety and substitute, God will not require satisfaction from us but accepts us in the beloved.
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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