It is a scriptural fact that a guilty sinner can do nothing to justify himself before God. Salvation is of the Lord—the free gift of his grace in and through Christ. We are righteous because of Christ’s obedience, we are justified because Christ died, and we are accepted because Christ intercedes for us.
What shall we do if we are concerned about our sins? What shall we do if we desire to be redeemed, to know the Lord in saving grace? Shall we sit down and wait for the lightning to strike? Shall we fold our arms and wait to find out if we are among the favored flock?
This would not satisfy Bartimaeus, who would not be denied, but cried out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” This was not the way of the woman of Canaan, whose daughter was sick, who was willing to take even the crumbs. She cried after him until he spoke the words of peace.
Nor will it be the way of any man who is genuinely convinced of sin, righteousness, and judgement. He will make use of the means of grace. He must have Christ, and he will seek the Lord with all his heart. He will seek Christ in the Scriptures, in the sermon, in the assembly of God’s people; and he will be willing to give up anything which prevents a living union with the Lord of Glory.
When the seeking sinner sees sin in its true light (heinous), when he sees the world as it is (vanity), when he sees Christ in his redemptive glory (eternal joy), he will be done with talking, reasoning, rationalizing, and theorizing; and he will flee to Christ. As one old writer said, “Sink or swim, I go to him.”
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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