Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. - 1 John 3:2
Because of his sovereign, eternal love, we are now (at this present time) sons of God. The people of the world know you as an earthly son, brother, or sister; but they do not know you as a son of God because they do not know God. They did not know his only begotten Son when he came to this world, and they rejected his claims as they will deny yours! But though this world does not recognize us as sons of God; though our present condition is far short of his glory; though our bodies are but flesh and death is before us; though we are subject to many miseries, temptations, and trials; though we are aware of the sin within us; now, at this very moment, we are sons of God! From what we are, it does not appear what we shall be; but when he returns, we shall see him as he is (not. as he was on this earth in the likeness of sinful flesh); and we shall be like him! Then the world will know what we now know, that we are the sons of God. “I in them, and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me” (John 17:23).
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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