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Henry Mahan

The Influence of the Doctrine of Election

Romans 9:11
Henry Mahan • April, 3 1977 • Audio
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Message 0253a
Henry Mahan Tape Ministry
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Sermon Transcript

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Now, I'm not about to enter into
any arguments in proof of the doctrine of election. I'm convinced
more and more as I preach the gospel that the word of God needs
to be preached and not proved. I want rather this morning to
speak to you on the influence or the effect which the precious
truth of election has upon the believer. However, before I get
into the heart of the message, we cannot pass over the text
which informs us clearly that God has an elect people. And
that's Romans chapter 9, verse 11. It says, the children being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God, according to election, might stand, not of
works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her, The elder
shall serve the younger." God's purpose in election shall stand. His purpose is unchangeable.
Our Lord said, All that my Father giveth me shall come to me, and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. The purpose
of God in election shall stand. It's unchangeable, immutable.
He has an elect people. Now, two or three other verses
turn to Matthew chapter 24. In the 24th chapter of Matthew,
verse 22, our Lord tells us here that God will temper the dispensation
of wrath, whether this is the tribulation or whatever, But
God will temper the dispensation of wrath for the sake of his
elect." That's what he says here in Matthew 24, 22, "...and except
those days be shortened, there shall no flesh be saved, but
for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." And then
turn to Mark 13. What we're saying here is that
God has an elect people. In Mark 13, verse 22, listen
to this. Mark 13, 22. Here he tells us
that false prophets and antichrists shall arise and deceive people. They shall actually deceive people.
But the elect cannot be deceived. In Mark 13, 22. Now look at it. False Christ and false prophets
shall rise and shall show signs and wonders to seduce or deceive,
if it were possible, even the elect. But the elect cannot be
deceived. The Holy Spirit lives within
them who is the Spirit of truth, and they cannot be deceived.
But men shall be deceived in these last days, but the elect
cannot be deceived. Now turn with me to Romans 11,
Romans chapter 11, verse 5 through 7. And he tells us Paul did, there is at this time
a remnant according to election, or because of election, in Romans
11, 5. Even so, then, at this present
time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And
if by grace it's not of works, otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then it's no more grace, otherwise work
is no more work. And then in 1 Thessalonians 1,
I want you to turn to this. Paul says, we know our election. He's writing to the church at
Thessalonica. He said, I know your election
of God, because our gospel didn't come to you in word only, but
in power. Look at it, 1 Thessalonians 1, 4, knowing, brethren, beloved,
your election of God. It's there. your election of
God. For this is the way we know you're
one of God's elect. Our gospel didn't come to you
in word only, in doctrine, theology. But it came in power, in the
Holy Ghost, in much assurance. And then one other scripture,
and then we get into the message. 2 Timothy 2, verse 10. Paul,
we know, endured much persecution. He was stoned. He was scourged,
I believe, three times. He was shipwrecked. finally martyred. But he said, and put in prison,
but in 2 Timothy 2.10, this is what he said, talking in verse
9 about suffering trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds
or being put in prison, the word of God is not bound. Therefore,
verse 10, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they
may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. with
eternal glory. I endure what I endure for the
sake of God's elect, that they may come to know Christ. Now,
when we read the word of God carefully and prayerfully, we
are impressed, I am, with the prominence given to this precious
doctrine of election. I don't know how in my early
Christian experience and through school and pastoring a church
for three years that somehow this very important doctrine
escaped my notice, but it did. But my purpose today is to show
the effect or the influence which the doctrine of election has
upon the true believer, the man who believes it. And I'm going
to divide the message into five parts, and I believe that these
five areas just about embrace the whole of our lives. First
of all, what is the influence of election on our opinions?
And then what is the influence of election on our emotions? And then what is the influence
of election on our experience? And then what is the influence
of election on our devotions? And then what is the influence
of election on our actions? And I say I believe those five
areas cover the whole of our lives. First of all, the influence
of election on our opinions. Ask the man who believes in divine
election his opinion of God. Ask him his opinion of God the
Father. David gives us here, Psalm 135, listen to it. In Psalm 135, David said this,
Our God, beginning with verse 4, the Lord hath chosen Jacob
unto himself, he's the God of election, and Israel for his
peculiar treasure. For I know that the Lord is great,
that our Lord is above all gods, and whatsoever the Lord please.
That did he in heaven and in earth, in the seas, and all deep
places. Ask the man who believes that
God has chosen Israel for himself what he believes about God. And
he says, The Lord God is omnipotent, the Lord God reigneth The Lord
God is in the heavens. The Lord God hath done whatsoever
he pleased in heaven, in earth, in the seas, and in all deep
places. That's what he thinks about God.
God ruleth in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of
the earth, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And none can stay his
hand or say unto him, What doest thou? I want you to turn to Matthew
11. And listen to the Lord Jesus
Christ here in this scripture, Matthew 11, beginning with verse
25. At that time, Jesus answered
and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and
hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto
me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he whomsoever the
Son will reveal him." The man who believes in election believes
in a sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, almighty,
reigning God. Then second, ask the man who
believes in divine election his opinion of Jesus Christ the Lord. What does he believe about Christ?
He believes that Christ is their God of their God, created all
things by the word of his power and for his glory. Turn to John
chapter 1 and listen to what the man who believes in sovereign
election believes about Christ. John 1 verse 1, John writes,
"...in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God, and all things were made by him. Without him was
not anything made that was made, and in him was life, and the
life was the life of men." He's the eternal covenant surrogate,
the mediator of an eternal covenant, the Lamb slain before the foundation
of the world. He's a Savior who has a people
eternally loved, eternally betrothed. He is their representative. He
lived for them. He died for them. He arose for
them. He sits at the right hand of
the Father. He cannot fail in all that he has undertaken to
do. John chapter 6, verse 37 through 40. Listen to this. Our
Master said, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And
him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me. And this is my Father's will,
which hath sent me. That of all which he hath given
me, I'll lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day." What do men who believe in election believe about Christ?
They believe He is an eternal Savior, that He is an effectual
Savior, that he is a sovereign Savior, that he cannot fail,
that all that he undertook to do shall be accomplished, and
all that the Father gave him shall be his. He cannot fail. Thirdly, ask the man who believes
in divine election his opinion of the Holy Spirit. He does not
see the Holy Spirit only as an influence, but a divine person.
He does not see the Holy Spirit as a helpless force knocking
at the doors of men's hearts, but he sees the Holy Spirit as
a conquering power. Turn to John 16, verse 13 through
15. This is what the Master said
about the Holy Spirit in John chapter 16, beginning with verse
13. How be it when he, the Spirit
of truth, is come? He will guide you into all truth,
not he'll attempt to, he'll try to, he'll make an effort, he
will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself,
but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he'll
show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall
receive of mine and shall show it to you. All things that the
Father hath of mine, therefore said I, that he shall take of
mine, and shall show it to you." He will convince the world of
sin. He will reveal Christ. He is
a conquering spirit. He is an invincible spirit. He
is an irresistible spirit. He is the Holy Spirit. Ask the
man who believes in divine election, his opinion of the fall of man
and the condition of the sinner. Turn to Romans 5. This is what
he says in Romans 5, reading verse 12, "...wherefore, as by
one man, by Adam's fall, sin entered into the world, and death
by sin, so death." He doesn't believe man was wounded in the
fall, but slain. "...death passed upon all men,
for they all sinned." Look at verse 17. By one man's offense,
death reigned. 18. By the offense of one, judgment
came upon all men to condemnation. 19. For as by one man's disobedience
many were made sinners, and Adam's loins by sin withfell, and walk
destructions rose, without a will or power to turn to happiness
or to God. Let the wild leopard of the wood
put off the spots that nature gives. Then might the rebel turn
to God, change his nature, and in God live. As well might the
Ethiopian slaves wash out the darkness of their skins, the
dead as well may leave their graves as old transgressors cease
to think. Where vice has held its empire
long, it will not endure the least control. But none but God's
almighty power strong can give new life to the soul. As the man who believes in election,
his opinion of salvation turned to Ephesians 2. In Ephesians
2, verses 8 and 9, the Apostle Paul wrote, ìFor by grace are
you saved through That not of yourselves is the gift of God,
not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus. By the deeds of the law shall
no flesh be justified. The grace of God chose me. The
grace of God redeemed me. The grace of God found me. The
grace of God called me. The grace of God keeps me. The
grace of God shall raise me. The grace of God shall enthrone
me. was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears
relieved. How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed. It's not of blood, nor the will
of man, nor the will of flesh, but of God. By the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified." What effect, what influence does
the doctrine of election have upon our opinions? We believe
God is sovereign, almighty. We believe Christ is an eternal,
effectual redeemer. We believe the Holy Spirit is
an invincible, conquering, irresistible person. We believe that man fell,
is hopelessly, helplessly depraved in his corruption and sin, and
cannot rise except by the aid of a sovereign hand. We believe
that salvation, from beginning to end, Alpha to Omega, is of
the Lord and of him only. in its purpose, in its application,
in its execution, in its sustaining power, in its ultimate perfection,
it is of the Lord. All right? Secondly, now, what
is the influence of election upon our emotions? Upon our emotions. Now, there are some people who
believe an election is a doctrine. There are some people who believe
an election as a person, and there's a difference. And I'm
not saying that just believing in the doctrine of election will
accomplish this effect on your emotion, but to believe in the
person of election, to believe in the glory of election, to
believe in the purpose of election, To make your calling and election
sure is to have this influence and effect upon your emotions.
Number one, election received in its true revelation will bring
joy to your heart. It's not a doctrine of mourning
and grieving. Election is not the sinner's
enemy, it's his friend. Every time that Paul wrote of
election, he rejoiced. He wrote in Ephesians 1, "...Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him, in love having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children." Blessed be God! In 2 Thessalonians
2, verse 13, he wrote, But we are bound to give thanks always
to God, rejoicing in the Lord always for you, brethren, beloved
of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth. We rejoice! When David wrote of election,
turn to Psalm 65. I want you to see what David
says here. He rejoiced! He rejoiced in him. to know that
God hath loved me from eternity and chosen me in his divine purpose
and will, and for his glory and my good, makes me happy." In
Psalm 65, verse 4, "...blessed is the man whom thou choosest."
Blessed is that man! The word blessed is happy. "...happy
is the man whom thou choosest, and causeth to approach unto
thee, that he may dwell in thy courts." Election gives you permission
to come to God. You don't come on any other ground. You come before the President
of the United States by invitation only. You come before the Lord
God by invitation. Happy is that man whom thou hast
chosen, and cause it to approach unto thyself. And then turn to
Luke 10. I want you to see this. In Luke
10, verse 21, My friends, there's no joy in
human works because they're all filled with too much sin. I can't
find any joy or satisfaction in my preaching or praying or
studying or giving or working because I know it's all filthy
rags and I know it's all temporary. I can't find any joy in the law,
the law of thou shalt and thou shalt not and thou shalt and
thou shalt not. Where is the joy there? But listen
to our Lord in Luke 10, verse 21, in that hour, Jesus rejoiced
in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and the
prudent, and thou hast revealed them unto babes, even so, Father,
for so it seemed good in thy sight. There's no joy in works, there's
no joy in the law, but there's joy in eternal grace, because
it cannot fail. Election not only leads to joy,
but it leads to humility. One old hymn writer put it this
way, Why was I made to hear his voice, And enter where there's
room? While thousands made a wretched
choice, had rather starve than come, t'was the same love that
spread the feast that sweetly forced me in, or I still would
refuse to come and perish in my sins. Mephibosheth, when he
was brought before David, at David's request, because of David's
choice, that lame, crippled, ragged grandson of Saul sat on
the floor and looked up at that mighty monarch of God, King David,
in his splendor, majesty, grandeur, and power, and he said, Who am
I that you should show mercy to such a dead dog? That's humility. And you and I, if we really know
what it means to be chosen of God, to be picked out of a fallen
race, to be honored by being made an object of God Almighty's
affection, to be chosen as the bride of the King. In our rags
and lameness and blindness and filth and guilt, dug from the
pit, lifted from the cesspool, washed in His blood, crowned
with the jewels of His glory, robed in His righteousness, we'll
have to throughout our days say, Who am I? Why was I made to hear
his voice and enter where there's room, while thousands made a
wretched choice and had rather starve than come? Turn to 1 Corinthians
4, and you look at this verse and look hard at it and answer
it. 1 Corinthians 4, 7. Who maketh thee to differ from
another? What hast thou that thou didst
not receive? You look at the lame, blind beggar
down there on the street corner selling his pencils as you walk
by in your health and happiness and prosperity, and you stop
a moment and think, who made you to differ? You look at that poor, uneducated,
ignorant person upon whom you look, the person you look down
upon, and next time you think in your intelligence and wisdom
and accomplishment, who made you to differ? And then you look
at the man out yonder who revels in his freewillism and Arminianism
and Pelagianism and false religion, and when you grow angry with
him and want to argue with him and make fun of his ignorance
in spiritual things, you stop and think, who made you to differ?
You look upon that woman in her compromising living, in her dirt
and filth, living on food stamps or welfare, lying in the gutter
of sin day after day and night after night, and think of yourself
in your lily-white purity, and then you ask yourself this question,
who made you to differ? What have you got that you didn't
receive? And then you look at that man who's been a failure
in everything he's done. He's a drunk. He staggers down
the street. He hardly knows where he's going
or where he's been. He wasted his life and lost his
family. And he's no count. The next time
you think to criticize and you ask yourself this question, who
made you the different? What do you have that you didn't
receive? There's nothing in this world as wretched and vile in
the sight of God as pride in grace. And pride in anything,
God says six things I hate, seven are an abomination to me, and
number one is a proud look. And God resisteth the proud and
giveth grace to the humble. Pride goeth before destruction
and a heart is spirit before the fall. The man who believes
that he was chosen of God redeemed of God, lifted of God, blessed
of God, that man will grow in humility. And your pride only
reveals one thing, God didn't choose you. And then in the third
place, election not only gives joy and humility, but it gives
comfort, comfort in hard trials, hard trials. I don't know where
you find your comfort. when the storm clouds are heavy.
I don't know where you find your comfort when the valley is dark
and the road is rocky. I don't know where you find your
comfort when you engage in difficulty and sorrows. You may find your
comfort in luck or fate or blind chance, but I'll tell you where
I find mine, and it's an unlimited source, unchangeable source. It's an effectual source. I find
my comfort in the strength of God's absolute sovereignty over
all things. Turn to Romans 8, verse 28. Election
will have some influence on your emotions. It will fill you with
joy, it will cut the legs of pride out from under you and
put you down in humility, and it will give you comfort. I don't
care if God is pleased as the first cause to take everything
you've In Romans 8, 28, we know that all things, all things,
big and small, successful or failure, happiness or sorrow,
all things work together for good to them who love God, to
them who are called according to his purpose. 5. Whom he did
foreknow or foreordain, he did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son. God's got some plans for Nathan.
And those plans are well laid out. He's the best architect
in the universe. He never changes his plans. The
gifts and calling of God are without change. We drew the plans
on this new building, got started on it, and changed some of the
plans because me and a failure, they make mistakes. When God
Almighty set out with his eternal plans from before the foundation
of the world, he didn't alter one line. Moreover whom he predestinated
he called, whom he called he justified, whom he justified
he glorified. Eli said, when they told him
that God was going to kill his two sons, Eli said, Why, it's
the Lord, let him do what he will. Let him do what he will. Whatever the trial, you can find
your strength in this, if you know it, it is the Lord. He's
the Lord. He's the Lord of creation. He's
the Lord of providence. He's the Lord of grace. He's
the Lord of salvation. He's the Lord of morning, noon,
and night. He's the Lord of heaven and earth. He's the Lord of all
things. Let him do what he will. Let him do what he will. And then
election gives confidence and assurance. Look down at the next
verse. Verse 31, Romans 8. Now what shall we say to these
things? Well, if God be for us, who can
be against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely
give us all things? Who can lay anything to the charge
of God's elect? I'm not worried. Confidence?
Not presumption. Confidence. Not arrogance. Assurance. God justified us. Who is he that can near me? It's
Christ that died, is rather risen again and seated at the right
hand of God who makes intercession for us. Who can separate us from
the love of Christ? His love's an eternal love, it's
an unchangeable love, it's an immutable love, it's an effectual
love, it's a permanent love. All right, quickly, the influence
of election upon thirdly, our experience. I've moved quickly
now, my time's about gone. What effect does it have on our
experience? Well, listen, it's interesting to hear men tell
their religious experiences. But unfortunately, unfortunately,
when most people tell their religious experience, it's filled with
self, what they heard, what they felt, what they did, what they
saw, what they gave. Or there's some credit given
to divine provisions or provisions of grace, but most of the glory.
Now, think of it. Examine the songs we sing. Examine the testimonies you hear.
Examine the experiences people give you about how they were
saved. Now, examine them carefully. And most of them, unfortunately,
will give the glory, not to God, but to man. But now I want you
to listen to Paul over here in Ephesians chapter 1. Turn to
Ephesians 1 and listen to the Apostle Paul. And I want you
to note who gets the glory in this testimony. Who gets the
praise? Who did the work? Who was the
recipient and who was the giver? In Ephesians 1 verse 3, Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,
according as he hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love, having predestinated us. unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption, through
his blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace." That's a testimony. He chose me. He accepted me. He redeemed me. Fourthly, the
influence of election upon our devotion. I'm going to ring a
bell here, I want you to listen carefully to it. You can tell more about a man's
doctrine when he prays than when he preaches. I can tell a whole lot more about
what people believe when I hear them talk to God than when I
hear them talk to me. A man may preach, Sinner, save
thyself, but he has to pray, God be merciful to me, a sinner.
That's right. He may stand before a congregation
and talk about what the sinner must do, but when he He has to
cry, God be merciful to this. When he talks to Bill, he may
say, Bill, won't you accept Jesus? Bill, won't you let God have
his way? Bill, won't you let the Holy Spirit in your heart?
Bill, won't you surrender to Christ? But when he prays, he
has to pray, Lord, you can do all things, save Bill. He may preach man's will, but
when he prays, he has to pray, Thy will be done. Not man's will
at all, it's Thy will. As Christ said, Not my will,
but Thy will be done. That's prayer, and that's theology. He may preach the dignity of
man, but when he prays, he has to pray, My sins are ever before
me. Huh? That's right. He may preach
the power of human choice, but when he prays, he has to pray,
even so, Father, it seem good in thy sight. He may preach the faithfulness
of men, but when he prays, he has to pray unto him who is able
to keep us from falling. and to present us faultless before
his presence with exceeding glory. Unto him, the only wise God our
Savior, unto him the glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now
and forever. Unto man, nothing. Unto him,
all things." I'll tell you, a man who believes
in election can pray. And I even find those who don't
play in that way. And the fifth place in closing,
the influence of election upon our actions. A man does not believe in election
who is unloving. The scripture says we love him
because he first loved us. That's the basis of our love
for him. Herein is love, not that we love
him, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. When we realize the everlasting
love of Christ, it makes us ashamed when we don't imitate it. When
we realize how he loved us when we were unlovely, It gives us
incentive to love others in their unloveliness. When we realize
how he, in patience, endured our infirmities, it gives us
the patience to endure other people's infirmities, and makes
us ashamed of ourselves when we don't. Forgiveness, be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God,
for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. How can I be otherwise? When I realized that I had so
much for him to forgive, how can I do any less than forgive
others? Mercy. Turn to Luke 6. I want
you to look at this verse. I jotted it down to call your
attention. Luke 6, verse 35. This is what it's based upon. You know, you go out here, people
will do more for love than will for reward. That's right. Do more for love than you will
for reward. If someone walked in here this morning with a gun
and pointed it between my eyes and said, I'll give you one million dollars,
let me shoot you. Why, I'd say, no way. You couldn't
give me ten million to let you shoot. You couldn't give me the
world to let you shoot me. If he walked in here and pointed
that gun here and said, it's either your life or your son's
life. Well, I'd say, pull the trigger. Go right ahead. And
preachers that want to preach to people, do this, do that,
for rewards in heaven. They're wasting their time, as
far as I'm concerned. A total waste of time. Wasted effort,
wasted preaching. Let the people go home, cut their
grass, or something else. But when we think about how Christ
loved us, can I do any less than love Him? When we think how He
forgave us, can I do any less than forgive others? For love
you do what you won't do for reward. Look at verse 35 of Luke
6. Love your enemies, do good, lend,
hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and
you shall be children of the highest. Why? For he is kind
to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful
as your daddy, your father is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not
be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive,
and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to
you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure you
need, it shall be measured to you again." That's amazing! God's measured out to me so much. It's based on what he's given,
2 Corinthians 8, 7-8. You know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor.
Can you do the other way? Witnessing the disciples, and
we can't help but preach what we've heard, what we've seen.
Let me give you this little hymn and I'll close. Let me, my Savior and my God,
on thy sovereign grace rely, and own tis free, because bestowed
on one so vile as I. Election tis a word divine, for,
Lord, I plainly see. Had thou not chosen me, I never
had chosen thee. free grace alone can wipe the
tears from my lamenting eyes and raise my soul from guilty
fear to a joy that can never die." That's right, the influence
of election upon a man's opinions can change him. And God, Christ,
the Holy Spirit, and upon his emotions, why it gives change. Give him something to plant his
feet on, somewhere to stand that won't move. His experience, it'll
all be God. All God. On his devotion, he'll
learn how to putty when he learns to whom to putty. And his actions,
you'll see a difference. You'll see a difference. When
he comes to realize that everything he's got, God gave him. They
make him generous, make him humble. They fill his heart with love,
understanding, pity, patience. They have all the effect in the
world upon him. Our Father, bless the message
now and use it for my good, for the good of thy people who have
heard. Give to us hearing ears and receptive hearts, O Lord,
to thy word. Thy word is true. take away our
flesh and our traditions and our arguments and our defenses
against Christ and his glory. Let us become as little children,
sitting at the feet of Christ, willing to be taught, willing
to learn. Help us to grow in grace and the knowledge of our
Divine Son, for his glory we pray. Amen.
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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