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Henry Mahan

Do We Believe God?

1 John 5:9-10
Henry Mahan • March, 15 1992 • Audio
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Message: 1052a
Henry Mahan Tape Ministry
6088 Zebulon Highway
Pikeville, KY 41501
What does the Bible say about believing God?

The Bible teaches that believing God involves trusting His Word and promises, as seen in 1 John 5:10.

Believing God is fundamentally different from merely believing in God or acknowledging His existence. According to 1 John 5:10, 'He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.' This shows that true belief is a personal trust in God's character and His promises. Faith is not just an acknowledgment of God's existence, but a deep-seated conviction that what He says is true, which leads to a transformation in behavior and trust in His salvation through Christ.

1 John 5:10

How do we know that salvation through Christ is true?

Salvation through Christ is affirmed in Scripture and evidenced by faith in God's promises, as demonstrated in Romans 4.

The assurance of salvation through Christ is firmly rooted in Scripture. Romans 4:3 states, 'For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.' This demonstrates that righteousness before God is granted through faith in His promises, not by works. Throughout biblical history, individuals who believed in God's word, including Abraham and David, received God's grace and mercy. This truth opens the door for all believers, as salvation is based on God's covenant mercy through Christ, who died for our sins and reconciles us to God. Our confidence in this salvation lies in believing God's written Word and His fulfillment of His promises.

Romans 4:3

Why is believing God's Word important for Christians?

Believing God's Word is crucial for Christians as it teaches about salvation, God's character, and His will for our lives.

Believing in God's Word is vital because it reveals His nature and His plans for humanity. 2 Timothy 3:16 teaches that 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.' Thus, Scripture provides guidance for living in a way that is pleasing to God. Moreover, believing God's Word not only gives us knowledge of salvation through Christ but also compels us to respond in faith and obedience. A genuine belief in what God has revealed influences how we live our lives, shaping our ethical and moral decisions based on divine principles rather than human conventions. Therefore, engaging with Scripture is foundational to a believer’s faith.

2 Timothy 3:16

How can one have faith in God's promises?

One can have faith in God's promises by trusting in His Word and recognizing His faithfulness throughout Scripture.

Having faith in God's promises requires a deep trust that God is faithful to His Word. Hebrews 10:23 urges us to 'hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.' This demonstrates that faith involves personal assurance in God's trustworthiness. Historical examples, such as Abraham's unwavering faith when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac, illustrate how active belief requires action based on trust in God's character, even when circumstances seem impossible. Understanding that the promises of God are rooted in His nature—unchanging, loving, and just—reinforces our ability to place our faith solidly in Him. Such faith may be small, but it is the strength of the one we believe in that ultimately holds significance.

Hebrews 10:23

Sermon Transcript

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Well, I can certainly say, and I believe everyone in this congregation
can say, that all I have needed, he has provided. Not all that
I wanted, but all that I needed. All that I needed. He has provided
all these many years. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not want, for that which I need. David said, I was young, now
I'm old, and I've never seen God's seed begging bread. Never. And you haven't either.
He who feeds the ravens and the sparrows provides for his people. That's so. And let's don't confuse
our wants with our needs. He will supply all your needs
according to his riches and glory through Christ Jesus, not your
wants. Because most of our wants are
not good for us. disastrous if we realize them,
but our needs He's always supplying. I have a message this morning
that I'm anxious to bring for my good and for yours, and I
hope you'll hear me. The title of the message is,
Do We Believe God? Do we believe God? Now notice
I did not ask, I bear carefully, I did not ask, do we believe
there is a God? Now that's not what I asked.
James wrote that the devils believe there is a God, and they tremble. So that's not what I'm asking.
Most everybody in the world believes there is a God. If they can't
come to some kind of knowledge of him, then they'll make their
own. But they believe there's a God. Then secondly, and note
this carefully, I'm not asking, do we believe in God? I'm not
asking that at all. And that's generally the way
that it is expressed. Well, I believe in God. But that's
not what I'm asking. I'm asking, do we believe God? Do we believe God? There's a
difference in believing there's a God and believing God. There's
a difference in believing in God and actually believing God. All who believe God are saved. All who believe God are accepted. All who believe God have grace
to enter into the fellowship of God. Now, God has been pleased
to give us his word. Our Lord Jesus said concerning
his disciples, he said, I've given them thy word. I have given
them thy word, which you gave me, and they have believed it. I've given them your word, and
they believe it. And this Bible says all Scripture,
from Genesis to Revelation, all Scripture is given by inspiration
of God. And this Scripture is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness. It's God-breathed. The Scriptures
are God-breathed. And Peter wrote over there in
1 Peter chapter 1, listen to this, 1 Peter chapter 1, 2 Peter
chapter 1, Verse 20 and 21. Listen. Knowing this first, that no prophecy
of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy,
the scripture, came not in old time by the will of man, but
holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Ghost. So God's given us his word. This
is the word of God. Now, what I'm asking you this
morning, And not do you believe there is a Bible. We're holding
it. Not do you believe in the good
book. I hear people say, I believe in the good book, you know. I
believe in the Ten Commandments. I believe in the Word of God.
No. What I'm asking is, do you believe the Word of God? See,
there's a difference. You see what I'm saying? Do you
believe it? Do you believe it? And then God has been pleased
to send us his Son into the world. God was in Christ reconciling
the world to himself. Christ came to reveal God's name,
the Father's will, the Father's purpose, the Father's grace.
Christ came to reveal the Father. He said, no man has seen my Father
at any time. But the only begotten, well-beloved
Son reveals him. The disciples said to the Lord,
show us the Father. I don't know what they were expecting
Christ to show them, but they said, show us the Father. And
he said, have I been so long time with you and you don't know
me? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. The Word reveals
the Father, and the Son reveals the Father. That's what Paul
wrote in Hebrews 1, God who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake to our fathers by the prophets. he hath in these days spoken
to us by his Son." He told Moses, he said, I'll send that prophet,
and I'll give him my words. And blessed is the man who hears
his words, and obeys his words. And judgment and condemnation
upon the man who does not believe his words. Do you believe his
Son? I'm not asking do you believe
that there is a Jesus Christ. The calendar tells you that.
Look at the calendar. So many years B.C. B.C. what? Before Christ. You look
at the calendar, it says 1992 A.D. A.D. Anno Domini. In the year
of our Lord. Who is that? That's Christ. That's
an accepted fact. Jesus Christ walked this earth.
Crucified on the cross. Josephus the historian writes
about that. Not only the Word of God, but
history records his life and death. I'm not asking, do you
believe in Jesus Christ? I hear these preachers say, well,
he's the same today. I know he is. He has power to
heal now just like he did then. Well, anybody knows that. If
he had it then, he's got it now. But I'm asking, do you believe
him? Do you believe him? Look at 1 John chapter 5. 1 John
chapter 5. And this is not a play on words,
believe me. Words are vehicles of thought.
The only way you can understand anything is by words. If a man
doesn't speak, you'll never know what he's thinking. That's the
reason God had to give us his word. We'd never know God without
the word. You could stand out under the... And I know the heavens declare
the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. David marveled
at the things that God has made, but you stand out and look at
the stars and you ask the question, well, is God merciful? Is God
gracious? Will God forgive sin? Will God
indeed dwell with us? Those questions are only answered
by God's word. What is God's purpose? What is
God's plan? What is the future? If a man dies, shall he live
again? The stars won't answer that question. How can God be
just and justified? The stars, the moon, the sun,
the beautiful pine trees and the lovely birds. I love them. God's creation is so wonderful. But there's only one place to
find God's will and purpose. Covenant is in His Word and in
His Son. First John 5, listen. Verse 9,
if we receive the witness of men, The witness of God is greater. Do you receive the witness of
men? I do. I do. I have people, friends here of
years that tell me things. I believe them. Well, the witness
of God is greater, and this is the witness of God which is testified
of his Son. He that believeth on the Son
of God hath the witness in himself. And he that believeth not God
He didn't say he believed not in God, or the person doesn't
believe God. We've made God a liar, because
he believes not the record God gave of his son. So there I'm
asking this one, do you believe the son? Do you believe God? Do you believe his word? Do you
believe his son? Christ has spoken. He said, I'm
the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but
by me. Do you believe him? He says, come unto me, all you
that labor in heavy labor, and I'll give you rest. Do you believe
Him? He said, I'm come that they might have life and have it more
abundantly. Do you believe Him? Do you believe
Him? Do you believe Him? Promises of the Word. You see,
this is illustrated and demonstrated in Egypt. God said to the people
through Moses, He said, I'm going to pass through the land at midnight.
And the firstborn is going to die in every home, even to the
cattle on the hillside. Now take a lamb, enslave the
lamb, put the blood on the door. When I see the blood, I'll pass
over here. Those who believed God lived. See what I'm saying? They believed
Him. How do you know they believed Him? They put the blood on the
door. They believed Him. They went in the house and sat
down. Is this not illustrated when God visited Sodom, told
Lot, his wife and two daughters? He said, now, I'm going to destroy
this city. Now you flee. Get out, and don't
look back. Get out of the city and don't
look back. Lot believed him. The daughters believed him. Lot's
wife didn't believe him. She had a lot of treasures and
friends and interest, etc., etc., in that city. And she stopped
and looked back. She just didn't believe him. She was a wife of
a godly man. She was a wife of a man who knew
God. But this thing of faith, I'm asking, do I believe God? Do you believe God? I can't believe
for my beloved wife. She can't believe for me. Do
you believe God? Do you believe His Word? They
believed his son. Is this not just illustrated
by Rahab the harlot? That's what she was. She was
a harlot. She was a person that ran a public house. But God sent
his messenger to her. And she hid his messenger and
protected his messenger. And they said, now, this city's
going to fall. God's going to take this city
and give it to Israel. People are going to be destroyed.
Now you take a scarlet thread and put it in the window. and
you get in the house and stay there, and you'll be spared."
Well, she believed him. She believed him. She did what
he told her to do. She put the thread in the wood,
because she believed him. Her actions were the result of
her faith. You know, let me tell you this.
I believe religion today, I really believe religion today is doing
more harm much more harm than good. And I know that I appreciate
the Home for Unwed Mothers and I appreciate the feeding the
children in Ethiopia and Africa and other places. We do some
of that. I appreciate them fighting pornography and drugs and alcoholism
and all these things. I appreciate that. They can do
it in the name of humanity. They can do it in the name of
compassion. They can do it in the name of
good citizenship, doing whatever you name you want to. But their
preaching, and their religious excess, and
emotionalism, and outward demonstrations, and walking the aisles, and hitting
people in the head, and carrying on all this. I tell you, in these
so-called experiences, they confuse the issue of faith. The issue is not how many hours
I walked, it's do I believe God? I don't have to shout and scream
and sway and wave my arms and watch the program this morning,
about 20,000 people out there and they're all doing this. Do
I have to do that to believe God? I believe God. I don't have to support every
religious program and huckster and high-pressure showman to
believe God. Believing God is an issue in
my heart. I don't have to prove to the
man next to me that I believe God by saying certain things
that he says I should say, praise the Lord, hallelujah, whoop-de-doo. That's confusing the issue. What religion is doing is making
what I require and what you require and what somebody else requires
to be required of a man to be saved. And that's not so. One
thing is required of me to know God, and that's to believe Him. I don't have to have a man lay
his hands on my head. Charles Spurgeon was never ordained. Did you know that? Never ordained
to the ministry. Never went to college, never
went to seminary, was never ordained, never had the approval of the
powers that be. And he said, I don't need your
empty hand laid on my empty head to add anything to an empty ministry. But I don't have to have someone
lay his hands on me and get in a healing line or act a fool
to know God. I really believe these things
are contrary. I believe they're emotionalism,
I believe they're excess, I believe they're outward demonstrations
of flesh. If you want my personal opinion,
it's flesh, and I feel uncomfortable around it. I feel uncomfortable around anyone
who's trying to impress people with their so-called faith, and
their so-called religion, and their so-called dedication. I'm
more comfortable around genuine humility in reference to the
things of God. Who am I that God should show
mercy to me? You see, my friends, faith is
an individual. I'm telling you the truth now.
People may come here and they say, well, you folks don't walk
the aisle and you don't raise your hands and you don't go through
all of these things. God looks on the heart. The Lord
looketh not on the outward countenance, and that which is highly esteemed
among men is an abomination to God." That's Luke 16, 15. You see, faith is an individual,
personal experience in the heart. It's heart work, it's soul work,
and it's in the heart and soul of a person to whom has revealed
himself in his son through the word. Now that's so. Paul said, we are the circumcision. And he gave three marks of the
genuine circumcision. You want to know a man who really
knows God? Who loves God? Three things are true of him.
He worships God in spirit. In spirit. Secondly, he rejoices
in Christ Jesus. Thirdly, he has no confidence
in the flesh, his or anybody else's. He's not surprised when
the chief of sinners is saved, and he's not surprised when the
chief religionist falls. Can I say that again? We have
no confidence in the flesh. And the man who knows God is
not surprised when the chief of sinners is saved. Old John
Newton was sitting at his desk one day and William J. came running
in. They were friends, lived in the same time, at the same
time, preached together. But William J. came running in
and he said, Brother Newton, the Lord has been pleased to
reveal himself to Mr. So-and-so down in Bath County.
He said, I'm so glad, Newton said, I am too. I rejoice that
that man has come to believe God. And Mr. J added, I'll tell
you, Brother Newton, he said, since the Lord saved that man,
I'll never despair of anyone else. Newton said, Brother J,
since the Lord saved me, I've never despaired of anyone else. So when you have no confidence
in the flesh, you're not surprised when God saves the chief of sinners,
nor are you shocked when the chief religionist proves to be
a reprobate. It doesn't surprise you because
you know human nature, human nature. So faith is a, and faith's
not dependent on atmosphere. It seems like to me in modern
religion you have to be in a mob to really praise God. And true faith doesn't depend
on atmosphere. True faith can praise God in
the kitchen, in the wash house, in times of trouble, in times
of rejoicing, with or without assistance. Isn't that right? True faith walks with God like
Enoch at all times. Now you spend 1 to 2 hours a
week in this building here. 1 to 2 hours a week where we
read the Word, where Mike leads us in singing, where Beth prays.
How many hours in a week? Somebody multiply that real quick.
24 hours times 7. 7 times 4 is 28, 7 times 2 is
14. 168 hours in a week, right? Two hours here, 166 hours somewhere
else. There's not much time with God,
is there? But it's enough to spend here. But what I'm saying
is, if a man believes he walks with God, those other 166 too.
And this, he's not dependent on this. He doesn't have to run
down here like a service station, get his tank filled up so he
can coast through 166 hours. and gives completely out. No sir, faith is not dependent
on atmosphere, it's not dependent on an assembly, and it's not
dependent on a human leader. It's dependent on God whom I
believe. I believe God. I believe God
in the morning as much as I believe Him right
now, if I believe Him. That's so. Faith does not need
to be recharged constantly by music. I watch these preachers. I know
what they're doing. They're psychologists, and they
can get this music, and they get people into this particular
frame. And it carries, it's like popcorn. And it's hot enough they all
pop, you know. And that's what happens. That's what's going
on. And a fella, if he's not waving his hands, the rest of
them are, he waves them too, you know. They must have something,
you know. I'll just join the gang and see if I can get...
Faith doesn't need that recharging by music and crowds and special
services. It sees God in all things. It
sees the hand of God. and the work of God. And the
food of faith, now listen, the food of faith, that which energizes
and that which gives strength to faith is God's Word and God's
Son. Now that's exactly right. Paul
said this, I know whom I have He didn't say, I know in whom
I believe. He said, I know whom I believe. I believe Him. I believe God. I believe His Word. I believe
His Son. I don't have to prove that to you or to somebody else. I believe God. I tell you this,
if I do believe God, my actions will prove I believe God. My
conduct will prove I believe God. My attitude will prove that
I believe God. It will leak out on you. I believe
God. Paul said, I know whom I have
believed. One old Puritan was dying and
he turned to his wife and said, quote some scripture for me.
I need some scripture. I need to hear the word of God.
She said, this is a true story. I can't recall who it was, but
I know the story is true. She said, I know in whom I have
believed. He said, stop, honey, stop. Don't
do that. She said, don't do what? Have
you ever quoted like that? I know in whom I... He said,
don't do that. She said, don't do what? He said,
don't even put a preposition between you and God. I know whom
I have believed. I know whom I have believed.
I know whom. Let's quit using that in I know
whom I have. I believe God. It comes down
to this. I believe what God says about the creation. I believe He created all things.
Christ created all things. In the beginning was the Word.
The Word was with God. The Word was God. And all things
were made by Him. Without Him was not anything
made that was made. I believe God. I do. I believe that. I'll tell you this, I'd say to
anybody here, that account of creation is better than the others
I've read. I believe God. And then I believe
what God says about Himself. You see, your faith depends on
the strength and power of your God. How big is your faith depends
on how big your God is. I believe what God says about
Himself. The modern day God is not God. I hear preachers all
the time say, well, God wants to do this and wants to do that.
Well, why doesn't he do it? He can't. You won't let him.
That's not God. Now, man's like that. I'm like that. I can't do a lot
of things that I endeavor to do. But is anything too hard
for God? He does what he pleases in the
armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. I believe
what God says about himself. I believe what God says about
us and the fall. I don't have trouble with that.
I not only believe it because the word says so, I've experienced
it. I know something about the fall of man. I know how difficult
it is to love God with all your heart. Do you know how difficult
that is? To love your neighbor as yourself, do you know how
hard that is? That's perfection. That's holiness. I believe what
God says about his law, about his justice, unchangeable, does
not alter. God will punish sin. It's appointed
unto me and wants to die, and after that the judgment. I believe
that. There's an eternity. God says so. I believe it. But I also believe what God says
about salvation, his covenant mercy. I believe there's grace
for the guilty. I believe God delights to show
mercy. I believe there's plenteous in mercy. I believe there's covenant
of mercy in Christ Jesus. I believe Christ, what God says
about his life and his death on the cross, he died for sinners.
He died for the salvation of all who believe that he was buried
and rose again. I believe he sits at the right
hand of God, I believe what he says, he's the only mediator.
Why should I look for another? Why should I create a mediator,
or create an intercessor, or why should I adopt any other
method to come to God except that method by which he tells
me to come to him? He says, seeing we have such
a great high priest, let us come bolder before the throne of grace
that we may find mercy. Obtain mercy. Well, that's the
way. Why come another way? Why do
the religionists say, well, if you're not baptized, you can't
be saved? God didn't say that. And he gave
us an example of the thief on the cross. Others say, if you
don't take communion with the wafer and the wine with us, then
you're not saved. God didn't say that. Why do you
say that? Others say, if you don't do this, and don't do that,
and don't do the other, and you don't join our church, and you're
not in our 144,000. Why do we say things like that?
God didn't say that. I'm not required to believe that. I believe Christ loved us and
gave himself for us. That's what he said. And when
that Philippian jailer asked Paul how to be saved, he told
him to believe Christ. Do you believe God? Do you believe
His Word? Do you believe His Son? Well,
brethren, what are your requirements? I don't have any. What do you
want me to do now? I want you to believe God. I
want you to be like the centurion when the Lord, when He brought
him His little child. His little child was so sick
and He said, your disciples couldn't do anything. If you can do anything,
help us. He said that to Christ. If you
can do anything, help us. Christ looked in him and he said,
if you can believe, all things are possible to them
who believe. He said, I believe. Lord help thou mine unbelief. That's what I want you to do.
That's all. I believe God. I believe his
words. I don't understand everything
in here. If I could, I wouldn't believe
it. That makes sense, right? If I could understand everything
here, I'd know a man wrote it, like me. But God wrote it, and the secret
things belong to God and reveal things to me. All the depths
of the riches, the height and the depth and the width and the
length of the riches of God, who can understand it? You say, I don't understand God.
I don't expect you to. We're not commanded to understand
God. Martin Luther said, I don't need a God I can understand.
God help me if I've got a God I can comprehend. God's so infinitely
above us and dwelleth in a light to which no man can approach,
how can I understand him? He sent his Son down here to
reveal to me that which he wants me to understand. And the rest
of it I'll find out later. When I'm able to understand,
I don't have the capacity to contain God. I don't have the
mental or spiritual capacity to contain God. The heavens won't
contain God. I know in part, I preach in part,
I understand in part. But when that which is perfect
is come, I'll know as I have been known. But till then, I'm
going to believe the part that he reveals to me. I'm going to
believe God. And I'm not going to join with
this whatever's going on today in the name of whomever it's
going on in the name of. They call him God, but he's not
God. I'm going to believe God, the God of creation, the God
of the Word, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
God whom Abraham believed. whom Moses believed, God with
whom Enoch walked, God in Christ Jesus. I believe him. I believe
him. And help thou mine unbelief.
Walk in the light God's given you, and he'll give you more. In Romans chapter 4, just briefly,
and I'll close, Paul gives us an example of faith. Romans chapter
4, and I'll look at it a moment with you, just a moment. Romans
4, verse 1. What shall we say that Abraham,
our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? What hath
Abraham found? He found acceptance with God.
He found righteousness. He was the friend of God. All
right, verse 3. What saith the scriptures? Abraham
believed God. He didn't say he believed there
is a God. He didn't say he believed in
God. He actually believed God. And it was counted to him for
righteousness. He believed God. That's what
I'm asking. Do we believe God? Now, to him
that worketh, verse 4, is the reward not reckoned of grace,
but of death. But to him that worketh not,
but believeth, believeth on him, confident in him, trust him,
rest on him, that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted
for righteousness. even as David also described
the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputed righteousness
without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are
forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom God
will not impute sin." Why? He believes God. He believes
God. Now look down at verse Verse
17, and then quickly, as it is written, God speaking to Abraham,
I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom
he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things
which be not as though they were. That's the God Abraham believed.
Even God, who quickens the dead, and who calls things that are
not as though they were. How can God call something that's
not as though it were? He makes it what it is. It's
dependent on Him. And what's this verse 18? Abraham,
who against hope, believed in hope, that he might become the
father of many nations. He didn't even have a son. according
to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. And being
not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when
he was a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb,
who was ninety, and he staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." I tell
you, if he'd looked at Sarah and thought about a son, he'd
have staggered. If he'd looked in the mirror,
and thought about conceiving a son, he'd have staggered. And
if you and I look on these things around us and in ourselves, we'll
stagger. We look to these religious leaders,
we are real. We can look to God. who against
all human reason and all human hope, you say, well, can we be
forgiven of sin? Can we be a child of God? Can
we be made like Christ? Can our bodies be raised? Can
we live eternally in heaven? Don't look at me, you'll stagger. Don't look at yourself, you'll
stagger. But I tell you, if you can look to that cross, the victorious
Christ, and look to the open tomb, and look to the right hand
of God where our Mediator reigns, look to him and believe his power,
even God, who quickeneth the dead, who calleth things that
are not as though they were, even God, you won't stagger. Believe him. Just believe him. Walk out of here believing My
faith's so small. It's not the strength of your
faith, it's the strength of the object of your faith. It's not
you at all. But I'm so weak. I know that.
But he's not weak. He's not weak. I just don't understand
it all. I know you don't. You never will
on this earth. But look to him. He believed
God. He didn't know God said, get
out of your father's house. He didn't know why, but he believed
God. God said, you'll have a son. He didn't know how, but he believed
God. God said, take your son up and
sacrifice him as a sin offerer. He didn't understand that, but
he believed God. Just believe him. And God said,
Abraham, my friend, I want to be a friend to God. I'm going
to believe him.
Henry Mahan
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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