Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. - Romans 3:27
Someone may think that the truth of election leads to pride—to teach that we are the chosen people of God will puff a man up with pride! Quite the contrary! The truth of God’s sovereign grace in Christ is the very instrument which cuts out pride by the roots. It is written, “Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Cor. 4:7).
If you are a believer, look about you to those of your own family still without any knowledge of Christ, perhaps wrapped in religious tradition and darkness. Now, I ask you, who made you to differ? Look about your neighborhood and see drunkenness, profanity, drugs, and broken homes. Now, I ask you, who made you to differ? Are you by nature better than they? Or were you in heart and principle more godly than they? Look into the prisons, or institutions, or upon nine-tenths of the world bound in poverty, superstition, and darkness and tell me who made you to differ?
How can a sinner saved by grace be proud? Look down to the realms of darkness and see the angels that fell, reserved in everlasting chains. Look at whole nations who, like the angels, have been passed by in God’s wisdom and judgement and tell me who made you to differ? A proud believer would be totally inconsistent with free grace!
“’Tis not that I did choose thee;
For Lord, that could not be;
This heart would still refuse thee,
But thou hast chosen me.”
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.
Comments
Your comment has been submitted and is awaiting moderation. Once approved, it will appear on this page.
Be the first to comment!