But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: fear: or, reverence - 1 Peter 3:15
God is essentially and infinitely holy. We do not make him so; but we do declare, proclaim, and regard him to be our Holy and Sovereign Lord in two, ways.
- Internally - “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” Unless we truly love, praise, and worship God in our hearts, all of our outward form and claims are hypocrisy.
- Externally - he is sanctified by his people when we walk in the Spirit, obey his word, preach his gospel, and live together in peace.
“Be ready to give an answer.” When a person asks us to tell him why we believe our sins are pardoned, why we are not under condemnation, and why we expect to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, be ready to give him a scriptural answer. It is because
“Christ loved us and gave himself for us.” It is because Christ took upon himself our nature, and by his perfect obedience gave us righteousness and holiness before God, and because Christ took ours in sin his body on the tree and satisfied infinite justice on our behalf, enabling God to be just when he justifies this sinner. Christ is our life, our hope, our righteousness, and our redemption.
Give this answer in a humble, meek, and thankful fashion; for we are what we are by his grace. Give this answer in the fear of the Lord, being careful to give him all the glory; and give it courteously and respectfully; it maybe that the person is a true seeker!
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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