And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. - 1 Corinthians 13:13
If I could speak with the languages of every nation on earth and express myself as angels do, yet have not that true root of love for others which flows from a true love for Christ, I only make an irritating noise with my mouth, which will be of no use to me nor to others.
If I had the gift of prophecy, whereby I could preach the mysteries of Scripture and even foretell the purpose of God in reference to the future; and, though I had a vast knowledge of the most sublime and hidden things and a faith to work miracles, if I have not this brotherly love, I am nothing! I may be great in the eyes of men; but, before God, I am nothing.
“If I give away my possessions to feed the poor…” Why would a man do this if he did not love the poor? He might, like Ananias or the Pharisees, do it for self-praise and self-righteous purposes. “If I give my body to be burned,” or die as a martyr for the cause of orthodoxy and religion, “it will profit me nothing.”
No actions, no human sacrifices, and no human sufferings are sufficient to entitle any soul to heaven. It is Christ who saves; and, if I have not that love for Christ which produces a love for others, all of these gifts, offices, and efforts are useless. Love is so essential that, if a man has everything else and has not love, he is nothing.
Love is not the prerogative of a few; it must be the possession of all.
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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