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Henry Mahan

The Experience of Grace

Psalm 51
Henry Mahan • February, 10 1991 • Audio
1,528 Articles 3,940 Sermons 760 Books
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Henry Mahan
Henry Mahan • February, 10 1991
1,528 articles 3,940 sermons 760 books
Message: 0998a
Henry Mahan Tape Ministry
6088 Zebulon Highway
Pikeville, KY 41501
What does the Bible say about mercy?

The Bible teaches that mercy is God's compassion and forgiveness towards sinners, offered freely based on His lovingkindness.

Mercy is a central theme in Scripture, reflecting God's character as loving and forgiving. As elaborated in Psalm 51, David cries out for mercy, emphasizing that he approaches God not on the basis of his merits, but solely on God's lovingkindness. This notion of mercy is pivotal, as it underscores that humanity's hope rests on God's decision to not give us what we deserve but to forgive our transgressions instead. The New Testament echoes this sentiment, portraying Jesus as the embodiment of God's mercy, offering forgiveness and redemption to those who seek Him in faith.

Psalm 51, Isaiah 43:25

How do we know that salvation is by grace?

Salvation is by grace as it is rooted in God's unmerited favor, demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice for us.

The doctrine of salvation by grace is foundational within the Reformed perspective, emphasizing that it is not our works that save us, but God's grace alone. In Psalm 51, David acknowledges his transgressions and appeals for God's mercy based on His lovingkindness. This reflects the truth that, according to Ephesians 2:8-9, we are saved by grace through faith; it is not of ourselves but a gift of God. Furthermore, the concept of grace signifies that our salvation is secured through Christ’s sacrificial atonement rather than our own efforts, illustrating the depths of God's love and commitment to redeem sinners.

Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 51

Why is repentance important for Christians?

Repentance is essential for Christians as it signifies a sincere acknowledgment of sin and a genuine turning towards God.

Repentance is a vital component of the Christian faith, illustrating the believer's response to God's grace. In Psalm 51, David's expression of repentance reveals not just regret, but a profound recognition of his sin against a holy God. This aligns with the New Testament teaching that repentance is a prerequisite for forgiveness (Acts 3:19). It's about turning away from sin while acknowledging our inability to cleanse ourselves, leading to an earnest plea for God's cleansing and transformative power. True repentance is accompanied by joy in forgiveness, as a right understanding of God’s grace enables believers to walk in genuine fellowship with Him.

Psalm 51, Acts 3:19

What is the significance of Psalm 51 in Christian worship?

Psalm 51 is significant in Christian worship as it encapsulates themes of repentance, mercy, and restoration.

Psalm 51 holds a special place in Christian worship due to its profound expression of repentance and the earnest plea for God’s mercy. Many church traditions view it as a model for confession and seeking forgiveness, illustrating the believer's heart cry for restoration after sin. The psalm emphasizes the recognition of sin's weight and the need for divine cleansing, echoing the experience of grace that believers encounter through Christ. As Martin Luther noted, this psalm is often utilized in the church to remind congregants of God’s grace amid human frailty and the restorative power of confession. It encourages worshippers to approach God humbly, knowing His readiness to forgive and restore.

Psalm 51, Romans 5:20

Sermon Transcript

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Now let's turn back to Psalm
51. And before I preach from this psalm, let me pass
on to you what some of the great preachers of the past have had
to say about Psalm 51. One whom I admire greatly, Mr. Spurgeon, said, When the divine
message had aroused David's conscience
and made him to see, to really see the greatness of his guilt
before God, and made him to sincerely yearn for the mercy of the Lord,
he wrote this song. When he was so overwhelmed with
the greatness of his guilt, and yearn for the tender mercies
of his God, that's when he wrote the psalm. Thomas Chalmers said
this, Psalm 51 is the most deeply affecting of all the psalms, and Psalm 51 is the one most
applicable to me. Another writer, Mr. Plummer,
said Psalm 51 is the sinner's guide and the believer's comfort. And Martin Luther wrote, there
is no psalm in all of scripture which has been oftener sung and
played in the Lord's church than Psalm 51. And one of the writers from way
on back yonder, preserved in church history, said this, Psalm
51 is the brightest geom in the entire book of Psalms. Psalm
51 contains instructions and doctrines so precious that the
tongues of angels could not do justice to its full development. You might say, well, why are
you tackling it? Well, it's a blessing. It's a blessing. What makes this
psalm so great? What makes this psalm so precious?
Why do these men speak in such glowing terms, especially of
Psalm 51? Well, I think for several reasons.
First of all, I think what makes this particular psalm so precious
and so great is that it is the outpouring of the heart of a
man who was a man at the God's own heart. That's what makes
it so great. It is literally, we're permitted
to look into the heart of David here. very heart is poured out. And he's no ordinary man. He's a man after God's own heart.
And then another thing that makes this particular psalm so great
and so precious is not just the doctrines of salvation preached,
but it's the glorious gift of salvation experienced. And this
is what I want more than any other thing, not just to know
in my head, the doctrines of salvation, but to experience
in my heart the mercies of God. Don't you? And then another reason
why this psalm is so great and so precious, I know we try to
define repentance and faith, we try to define faith and conduct,
we try to define a relationship with God, but here, here in this
psalm David doesn't attempt to define these things. He expresses
his experience in these things. He experienced repentance. He
experienced faith. He felt these things. And I know
that sound doctrine is important. Sound doctrine is important.
And I try to preach, as Paul said, sound doctrine. Take heed
to your doctrine. so doing you shall save yourself
and those that hear you. And I know that sound doctrine
must be preached and it's important. But here in this psalm you have
the doctrines of sovereignty, the doctrines of the fall, the
doctrines of substitution, the doctrine of grace. You have it
felt, you have it believed, you have them embraced, you have
them loved and experienced. That's what you have in this
psalm. These doctrines not so much defined as experienced. My son Paul brought a series
of messages recently on John 17. He did such an outstanding
job preaching from the 17th chapter of John. And most all of you
here are familiar with the 17th chapter of John, that's the high
priestly prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul began his first
message with these words. He said, now I'm going to bring
a series of messages on John 17, but I want you to understand,
this is holy ground. This is our Lord talking to his
Father. John 17, he said, are the inspired
words from the heart of the Son to the Father. Oh, let us listen
and learn the very will of God. But may I say to you this morning
as we approach Psalm 51, may I say to you that this also is
holy ground, in that it is a proof a true son of God, pouring out
his heart, a son of God by grace, pouring out his heart to his
Father. I have as much confidence, and
when I wrote this statement down, I read it again and again, but
I do. I have as much confidence that
David was a son of God as I have that the Lord Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. That's right, I do. I do indeed. Because the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, is called the Son of David. So as I read this scripture
here, this is not the words of a man about whom I have any doubt
at all. But a man whose relationship
with God is a relationship which God himself
owned by naming his son, the son of David. So, if we truly,
if you and I, this morning, can truly enter in, by experience,
if we can enter into these words with a sincere heart, then we
have, we too, have a good hope of the sure message of David. And for our understanding, I've
divided this psalm up into ten pleas, ten petitions. You can
underline them as I address each one. Psalm 51. And I've tried
to, first of all, by laying a foundation, I've tried to encourage your
interest by conveying to you the importance of this scripture,
the importance of it. by the testimony of those who've
gone before, and by the fact that David, of whom our Lord
Jesus Christ is called son of David, David wrote these words. And he begins, underscore this,
number one, have mercy upon me, O God. Have mercy upon me. Now before David has anything
to say to God, before he has any words to speak, any petition
to present. The first thing he establishes
is the ground upon which he approaches God. The ground upon which he
desires the favor of God. And that ground is what? Mercy. Have mercy upon me, O God. Not justice. Not wages. not even pity. But Lord, he said,
have mercy. This is what Paul said about
himself. He said, I obtain mercy. Mercy. You know, grace, what
is grace? Well, grace is God giving us
what we don't deserve. But mercy is God not giving us
what we do deserve. And that's the first thing that
David has to say. Lord, have mercy. Have mercy upon me. That's what
the public can cry. And you know, here's a man who's
a king. Here's a man who's a man after God's own heart. Here's
a man who has won victory after victory, conquest after conquest,
success after success. A writer of holy scriptures,
but he has proceeded no farther than the public and in the temple
who stood afar off and would not so much as lift his eyes
to heaven, but said the same thing, Lord, have mercy upon
me. I reckon when you talk about
growth, we grow in a lot of ways, but I hope we never grow out
of this position. Have mercy upon me. Mercy. And you know this mercy is based
upon what? Look, have mercy upon me according
to your loving is not according to anything that I deserve, but
Lord, have mercy upon me according to your lovingkindness." Your
plenteous in mercy, your lovingkindness is oh, how great. And according
to the multitude, the multitude of your tender mercies. Here's
the second, the second plea. Blot out my transgressions. Lord have mercy upon me according
to your loving kindness and according to the multitude of your tender
mercies blot out my transgressions. Can you imagine the number of
our transgressions? Augustus Toplady who wrote the
hymn Rock of Ages one time tried to estimate how many sins he'd
committed in his lifetime. And he took the seconds and the
minutes and the hours and the days and the weeks and the months
and the years and began to multiply them, and he had the figure up
in the millions. How many times I've seen it.
Can you imagine the number of our transgressions from the cradle
to the grave? Yet David says, Lord, blot them
out, every one of them. Blot them out. And he says, according
to the multitude of your mercies. It takes a multitude of mercies
to deal with a multitude of transgressions, doesn't it? And he's asking great
things. He's a great sinner, but he's
coming before a great God. And he's asking great things.
He's asked that the record of his sins all his sins all the
way back. He's asking that they be erased.
He's asking that they be obliterated. He's asking that they be blotted
out so that nothing remains. Does he have any basis for this?
Does he have any reason to expect this? What foundation, upon what foundation
does he request such mercy? Oh Lord, have mercy on me, and
according to your loving kindness and your tender mercies, the
multitude of your tender mercies, just erase, blot out, obliterate
all of my transgressions. Well, turn to the book of Isaiah. Let's see if David had any any
right or reason or foundation upon which to base such a request. I believe he did. Isaiah 43,
Isaiah 43 verse 25, listen to it. I, even I, Isaiah 43, 25, am he that
blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and I will not
remember thy sins." None of them. Oh, what good news. Look across
the page at Isaiah 44, verse 21. Our Lord speaks again, and
he said, Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for thou art my servant. I have formed thee, thou art
my servant, O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have
blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a
cloud thy sins. Return unto me, I have redeemed
thee." Blot them out. First request, have mercy. The second request, and blot
out, obliterate, erase all my sins. The third request, wash me. Wash me. You know, sin is dirty. Sin is foul and filthy. When our Lord prayed in Gethsemane's
garden and his blood came from his pores like sweat, he was
wrestling under the horrible, horrible expectation of actually
burying our filthy wretched, foul sins. Sin is so dirty. Sin is so filthy. It defiles the soul. It defiles
the body. It corrupts even our better works. Sin is so dirty and so foul that
it corrupts even the good that we do. Even our righteousnesses
because of sin becomes filthy rags. And sin separates us from
God. God can have nothing to do with
the filth of sin. And law won't cleanse it, and
works won't cleanse it, and deeds won't wash it. Only add to our
defilement. The more that we try to cleanse
our sins, the deeper the stain becomes. But David goes to the
right person in the right place. He says, Lord, you wash me throughout. inside and out. Wash me throughly
for mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. You see, washing
has to do with a work done. And cleansing has to do with
a work being done. This is what our Lord said over
here in John 13. You want to turn over there a
minute and see. When he, after the disciples
had met with him here at this supper, he began to wash their
feet. And he says in verse 10, Peter
came to Peter, and Peter said, you're not going to wash my feet.
And the Lord said, if I don't wash you, I don't wash you. This is what
David said, wash me thoroughly, wash me, and then cleanse me. And washing has to do with the
work done, completed. Cleansing has to do with the
work being done. And he came to Peter and he said,
and Peter said, you're going to wash my feet. And he said,
if I don't wash you, you have no part with me. Peter said,
well, wash my head, my hands. And then Jesus said in verse
10, he that is washed, he that is washed needeth not save to
wash his feet, but he's clean. He's clean everywhere. And you're
clean, but not all. This is what he's telling the
disciples. He that's washed, is washed. He's clean. But he only needs a daily washing
of the feet. This is what David has experienced
in what he's prayed. Wash me, thoroughly, perfectly,
once for all. Wash me from all my iniquity,
and then Lord, keep forgiving. Keep cleansing, keep helping. You think these men didn't know
anything? This is exactly what the son of David said there later. In verse 3, most people, you
know, are concerned about the punishment of sin. David's concerned
about the guilt of it. You see, nowhere in this whole
thing does he say, deliver me from hell. or like cane of old, my punishment
is greater than I can bear. Take my punishment away." What David is concerned about
is the guilt of sin. And he is saying, Lord, wash
me from its guilt. Cleanse me from its power. Verse
3, for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sins ever before me. And
he acknowledges that it is not just And in verse 4, he says,
Against thee and thee only have I sinned, and done this evil
in thy sight. He acknowledges that his sin
is against God. And he acknowledges that God
is justified when he speaks, and God is clear when he judges.
And in the next verse, he acknowledges it's not just a weakness, it's
a nature. He said, I was shaping an iniquity. in sin my mother
conceived me." This is not just a fleeting thing that comes and
goes. My iniquity, my transgressions,
my nature. I was born with this nature. So while so many people are concerned
about the punishment of sin, here's the man on the right track.
He knows if he's washed and cleansed from the guilt of sin, he'll
be delivered from the punishment and penalty of sin. So he prays,
Lord, wash me, truly, forever, and then cleanse me. For I acknowledge
my transgressions, and my transgressions are against you, and my transgressions
are not just a fleeting fault, my transgressions are nature. I need to be cleansed. And then
the next request is found in verse 6. Behold, thou desirest
truth in the inward part. In other words, our Lord said,
you are they that justify yourselves before men, but God looks on
the heart. God desires truth in the heart,
in the hidden part. Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Oh Lord, here's his request, make me to know wisdom. make me to know wisdom." Now,
David knows that God does not deal in pretense. I wish somehow
that that could be gotten across to my generation of preachers
and religious leaders. God desires truth in the inward
part. God's not impressed with a waving
of hands and being. pretense of a religious countenance
and the walling of the eyes and the uniforms of choir robes and
preacher robes and crosses, God desires truth in the inward part. God does not deal in pretense. God does not deal in outward
professions. God does not deal in the claims
of the mouth. God looks on the heart. And this
is what David is praying, Lord, make me in the inward part, in
the hidden part, in the part which nobody sees but God. In the part which no one sees
but God, make me to know wisdom, and that wisdom is Christ. It's
not the form or the tradition of religion, make me to know
wisdom. Under those that are being saved,
Christ is the wisdom and the power of God. We know in Christ
how God can be just and justifier. David wanted not the form, not
the tradition. David wanted it like Paul in
Philippians 3 to know him and the power of his resurrection. You can read Philippians 3 and
you see the echo of the same thing that you have here. Here's
a man saying, Lord, you look on the heart. You don't look
on the outward countenance. You desire truth in the inward,
in the hidden part. And that's what I pray, that
in my hidden part, in my inward part, in my very heart, you'd
really make me to know thee and thy wisdom. The Apostle Paul,
before he met Christ, was wrapped up in religion, legalism, tradition,
form, ceremony, sacraments, holy days, sabbaths, tithing, all
these things. And he said, these things I count
it gained, I count them lost for the excellency of the knowledge
of Jesus Christ my Lord. Oh, that I may know him. Oh,
that I may know him, know him, make me to know him in the higher. All this form and ceremony and
duties and doctrines are an abomination to God. Read the first chapter
of Isaiah sometimes. God said you make your long prayers
an abomination. He said you burn your incense
and it smells in my nose. You make all this pretense of
prayers and religion and Sabbath keeping and holy days and God
says it's a stench in my nostrils. That's what David's talking about
here. And then verse 7 is the fifth thing, the fifth plea and
petition. Purge me with hyssop. Purge me
with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter
than the snow. What's this hyssop? Well, don't turn to it, but over
in Exodus chapter 12, Israel was in bondage, in slavery
in Egypt. God would deliver them. And the
Lord God said, I'll pass through the land of Egypt this night,
and at midnight the firstborn in every home will die under
the judgment of God, even the cattle on the hillside. And he
said to Israel, take a lamb, the first thing of the flock,
set it apart and observe it, and then kill it, roast it with
fire, catch the blood in a basin, and then take a bunch of hyssop
dip it in the blood, and with that hyssop, strike the lintel
and the doorpost, and go inside and sit down. When
I see the blood, I'll pass over here." David knew all about that. And David is saying, this old
sinner, under the just wrath of a holy
God, under the condemnation of a holy God. This old sinner prays
one prayer, purge me with hyssop. Dip the hyssop in the blood of
the lamb and sprinkle it on my heart. See what he's saying? And like the high priest of old,
I couldn't find this that he used hyssop to sprinkle the mercy
seed, but he used something. Maybe it was hyssop. But he came
there before the Lord, and there was the broken law under the
mercy seat, and he sprinkled the blood. And that's what David's
saying. And I'll tell you, we can decide
all we want to, and be dipped all we want to, and rededicate
all we want to, but I'll tell you what I want. I want to be
purged with hyssop in the blood of the lame. Then I'll be clean. Then I'll be clean. And then
the next request is here, what can wash away my sin? Nothing
but the blood of Jesus. In verse 8, the sixth request
is, make me, Lord, to hear joy and gladness. You know there's
no misery like guilt. There is no misery like guilt. You notice that even in your
youngest children. If they're guilty of something
and know it, It interrupts your fellowship. Even little children
know something about the misery of guilt. And then adults know
something about the misery of guilt. But oh, the misery of
guilt before God. And that's what David's praying
about here. The misery of guilt. He says,
O Lord, O Lord, make me once again to hear Joy and gladness. There's no misery like guilt,
and there's no greater joy than forgiveness. Use the child illustration. He comes in. He's done something
wrong, because you can read it in his eyes. He's miserable. He's guilty. And then when it's
all confessed, and you reach out and pull him to yourself,
and give him a kiss of affection, boy, he's happy. The burden's
rolled off. The cloud's gone. The division
between the father and the son or the mother and the daughter
is gone. There's no greater misery than guilt and there's no greater
joy than forgiveness and that's what he's saying here. Purge
me with hyssop and make me to hear joy and gladness again. Speak peace to my heart in Christ
and I'll rejoice and you mend the bones that are broken. That's
that misery of guilt, broken bones. And Lord, hide your face
from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Let me know that
you don't see my sins. Let me know that they're blotted
out, and then I'll have joy and gladness, if I can just know. And you here in the field are
the same way. If you could just have some assurance that it's
all right, You'd quit worrying about your sins, you'd quit feeling
so guilty, you'd quit grieving over the past, you'd quit bringing
those things up if you could just have some assurance that
it's all right, it's forgiven. That's what he's saying. Make
me to hear joy and gladness. Let me hear you say, thy sins
are forgiven, and heal these broken bones, and let me know
that you're not even thinking about my sins. They're hidden
from your sight. They are blotted out. And I'll
be so happy. I'll be so happy. And then verse
10, the seventh request. Create in me a clean heart. You know David doesn't ask God
to mend his old heart. David doesn't ask God to mend
his old heart. He doesn't ask him to make his
old heart clean. He knows too much about himself
for that. He's too experienced in human
nature and it's helplessness and hopelessness to ask God to
cleanse that old heart. That old heart's too hard, too
evil, too double, too corrupt. He doesn't ask God to cleanse
his old heart. He asks for the proper thing.
He says, Lord, create in me a clean heart. Do what? created what's not there. It's
not there by nature. It's not in my power to produce
it. If I have a new heart, if I have a new heart, a new nature,
you're going to have to create it. Create it in Christ Jesus. He doesn't ask God to cleanse
his old heart or to make his old heart right. Get your heart
right with God. Can't do it. May be right for
a few minutes, but it's wrong. I need a new heart. Brand new. So Lord, I ask you to create
in me a clean heart. Perfectly, spotlessly clean.
A spirit, a soul, a heart that loves God. And Lord, renew a
right spirit within me. This is really a two-fold request.
Create that which is not there. A new heart. renew what is there
by your grace because it's constantly in need of renewing. That's right. Constantly in need of renewing. I was sitting there thinking
a while ago how many times, how many times I've stood here, how
many times I've sat there and walked up here and opened this
book and conducted these services and I'm as much in need of renewing
in my spirit, in my attitude, and now as I was 40 years ago.
Are you? That's what the, give me a new
heart. And then what you put there, you're going to have to
renew it every day. Every day. I told my class, we're
talking about progressive sanctification. People talk about reaching new
levels of spiritual maturity. I don't know anything about that. I know something about experiencing
heights and depths. I know something about experiencing
high points and low points. But I know this, I know a lot
of times after my highest point of experience of grace, the next
day, maybe I'm flat on the bottom. So I don't attain a level. I don't attain a level. I think
we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. But to say I attain
a level where I don't need certain things than I needed before?
Now what David says here, he said, you create in me a clean
heart, and then Lord, every day you renew a right spirit in me. You say, well, I'm going to have
a right spirit from now on. Bet you won't. From now on I'm going to do thus
and so. Bet you don't. Unless he renews it. That's right. And look at this, number 8, verse
11. Cast me not away from thy presence.
Cast me not away from thy presence. Can you imagine King David praying
that? I can. I think he's saying here,
cast me not away from your presence like you did Cain. Cast me not
away from your presence like you did Saul the king. Take not
your spirit from me. Don't give me over to a reprobate
mind like you did those in Romans 1. Oh Lord, don't leave me alone
as you did Ephraim. He said, Ephraim, leave him alone.
He's turned to his idols. Ephraim. And that's what he's
praying. Not at any time does a true believer
presume on the grace of God. I believe that. I don't believe
any true believer. I believe we have confidence.
I believe we have assurance. I believe we have hope. But I
don't believe there's a believer anywhere that can't say with
David right here, Lord, don't leave me alone. Don't forsake me. Don't give
me up. Don't cast me away from your
presence. Don't take your Holy Spirit from me. He did from Saul.
He did from Samson. Samson arose to go forth into
battle like he always had. And there wasn't any spirit of
God with him. And he wound up grinding in the mill of the Philistines. Oh, God came back. But I tell
you, He left. It's what David is saying. Don't
cast me away. Don't take your Holy Spirit from
me. And then the ninth plea is verse 12. Restore me. Restore me. Restore unto me the
joy of thy salvation. Uphold me with your free spirit. This is a sinner who had known
the joy of the Lord. This is a sinner who had known
the joy of the Lord, but through sin he had lost that joy, through
indifference. Through his own vain, his own
vanity and pleasures, he lost the joy of the Lord, and he longed
for its return. There's no joy in sin, there's
joy in the fellowship of Christ. That's what John wrote over here.
Let me read it to you in 1 John. This is what he's saying in 1
John, chapter 1. Listen to it, verse 3. That which
we've seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may
have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with
the Father and with his Son. And these things I write unto
you, that your joy might be full. Where's the joy? fellowship. And this man had
known fellowship with his Lord, and because of this great sin,
he lost that fellowship. And this is what he's saying.
He didn't say restore your salvation. He said restore the what? The
joy of it. He didn't say restore salvation.
He knew he knew the Lord. That's where he starts off. He
calls him his Lord. but restore to me the joy of
thy salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit. And then
I can teach transgressors thy ways." That's when I can be an
example. That's when I can be a teacher,
when I have that joy of salvation, that fellowship with my God.
And then I'll teach men, and sinners will be converted to
thee. One old man said, there's one degree that a man needs. to teach others
the things of God. I know you teachers that teach
in public school have to have certain degrees, the B.A. and the M.A. and so forth, and
educational degrees, but there's just one degree that a man needs
to teach men the things of God. It's not a B.A., it's not a D.D.,
it's an S.S., sinner saved. That's all they need. Or a B.S.,
bond slave. You restore to me that joy and you uphold me and then I
can teach. And then verse 14, Lord deliver
me from blood guiltiness. Now he had been the means of
the death of Uriah and he knew it and he admitted it. Blood
guiltiness he calls it, blood. His hands were dripping with
blood. What an awful, awful sin. Deliver
me from blood guiltiness, O God, thy God of my salvation. Deliver
me from this blood guiltiness. You know, no true penitent ever
covers his sins. He confesses them. And he says
in verse 14, you deliver me and my tongue will praise you. will sing aloud of your righteousness,
not mine, yours. And O Lord, you open my lips
and my mouth will sing your praises. And I do know this, you don't
desire sacrifice. I'm not going to be able to buy
your favor. I'd give it. And you delight not in burnt
offering. I know the sacrifices of God. I know what they are.
They are broken spirits. a broken and a contrite heart.
God's not impressed with the impressive altars and all the
monuments we build down here to his name with the steeples
that reach higher than any other building in town. God's not impressed
with these altars and these sacrifices. The sacrifices of God are a broken
heart, a contrite spirit, God will not despise. O thou that
hearest when sinners cry, Though all my sins before thee lie,
Behold them not with angry look, But blot their memory from thy
book. Behold, O Lord, I fall before
thy face, My only refuge is thy grace. No outward deed can make
me clean because my iniquity lies deep within. A broken heart,
my God, my King, is all the sacrifice I bring. The God of grace will
never despise one who rests in his sacrifice. So Jesus, my Lord,
thy blood alone hath power sufficient to atone Thy blood can make me
as white as snow, and no law and no deeds and no works can
cleanse me so." There, my friends, is the experience of grace.
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.

Broadcaster:
Henry T. Mahan / Zebulon Grace Church
Theology:
#Grace #Justification #Regeneration
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Articles by Henry Mahan

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Books by Henry Mahan

1co 01v01-02 Christ and Him Crucified.pdf PDF · 0.1 MB
1co 01v01-05 Christ, Our First Love.pdf PDF · 0.1 MB
1co 01v15 By the Grace of God, I Am What I Am.pdf PDF · 0.1 MB
1co 01v17 Christ Sent Me to Preach the Gospel.pdf PDF · 0.2 MB
1co 01v17-18 The Preaching of the Cross.pdf PDF · 0.1 MB
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