Peter exhorts us to lay aside (to be done with) those things that are disagreeable and contrary to holiness and a spiritual life. Unfortunately, this is not a “once-for-all” accomplishment, but a continual effort through the grace of God to lay aside the following:
1. Malice. Ill-will and ill-feelings towards others. Malice is born of self-love and self-righteousness.
2. Guile, or deceit. This word is used for all dishonest ways of gaining our selfish goals. Let us be men and women who speak the truth and deal honestly with all men.
3. Hypocrisy. This is simply the opposite of sincerity. It is pretending to be what we are not and speaking with our lips that which is not in our hearts.
4. Envy is the natural effect of malice and reveals the absence of love. Envy is the uneasiness a person feels in the happiness, prosperity, or success of another.
5. Evil speaking. When we think of evil speaking, we usually think of blasphemy or dirty words; but perhaps the worst and most damaging form of evil speaking is slander, gossip, and criticism of others. Sowing discord among brethren, whispering, and fault-finding do not reveal a work of grace in the heart.
Peter’s exhortation is to lay these sins aside and, as newborn babes, to desire the sincere (pure, unmixed) Word of God that we may grow in grace, in knowledge, in love, in patience, in humility, and in faith.
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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