I was preaching in a certain place years ago and brought a message on “Election.” After the service we went to a home for coffee and cake. A gentleman said to me, “That election you preached tonight is Primitive Baptist doctrine, and I don’t hold to the Primitive teachings.”
The fact that election is a precious truth of God’s word made no difference to this man. He cared not to look into it because it was a doctrine taught, and perhaps focused on, by a particular denomination. Could it be that a subtle Satan uses these tactics to turn men away from other precious truths?
Predestination; that’s Presbyterian doctrine. The priesthood; that’s Catholic doctrine. Water baptism; that’s Church of Christ doctrine. The baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit; that’s Pentecostalism. Soul winning and witnessing; that’s fundamentalism. Freedom from the law; that’s antinomianism. Obedience and outward godliness; that’s legalism. Absolute sovereignty; that’s hyper-Calvinism. Responsibility; that’s Arminianism.
What have we here? I’ll tell you; it is the evil device of Satan (and it is effective) to persuade men to deny the truth of God by associating it with error of spirit, conduct, or practice. Seven times in Matthew 5 our Lord said, “You have heard it said… but I say unto you.” Let us therefore forget what men have said about these things and listen to what he says! Forget the “isms,” the denominational traditions, the positions formerly held, and study his Word. God said; that settles it, whatever men may believe about it!
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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