My determined purpose, my greatest desire, my soul and heart’s sincere hope is three-fold:
1. “That I may win Christ and be found in him;” not trusting nor having any self-achieved righteousness of my own, but possessing that genuine righteousness of God which comes through a living union with Christ by faith.
2. “That I may know him.” I do know him, but I want progressively to become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him and the wonders of his person; that I may come to know the power flowing from his resurrection and the strength it gives to believers; that I may know and share his sufferings so as to be continually transformed into his likeness, daily dying to sin and the world.
3. “That I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.” Certainly we want to have a part in that first resurrection in the great day; but perhaps Paul is referring here to a spiritual resurrection that lifts us out of the death, darkness, and corruption of this world.
The world, flesh, and all of this human life is death. In Christ there is real life, real love, real holiness. There is communion with God and perfect righteousness. This is what the believer wants. By whatever means it pleases God, I want to be like Christ in attitude, spirit, and 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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