Do not be deceived by false preachers and wicked persons who preach that it does not matter how a person lives provided he believes in Jesus Christ, or that knowledge of theology is sufficient without obedience to Christ in conduct. This is not true! One cannot separate faith and conduct. As a tree is known by its fruit, so a righteous man is known by his works. Good fruit does not make a tree good but shows it to be good; so good works do not make us righteous (only Christ can do that), but good works reveal true faith in Jesus Christ.
A church member who practices sin and disobedience to the commandments of Christ is not of God, but takes his character from the evil one. He imitates Satan, not Christ. Christ came not only to deliver us from the penalty of sin but also from the power and practice of sin.
He that is regenerated by the Spirit of God, in whom Christ is formed, who is a new creature in Christ, does not make sin his practice and the course of his life. He is not without the motions of sin within nor free from sinful thoughts, words, and even sinful deeds; but he does not give himself up to sin, excuse it, justify it, nor continue therein! Sin, even in thought, is distasteful and hateful to one who loves Christ and desires to be like him.
“O to be like thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, thy perfect likeness to wear.
“O to be like thee! O to be like thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as thou art;
Come in thy sweetness, come in thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.”
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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