John Calvin once said that “A proud heart and a humble Christ are an oxymoron.”

In this video, Joel Beeke explains that a Christian is not acting as a Christian when he is proud. It is impossible to stand at the cross, contemplate who God is and what Christ has done for us, and be proud.

When we are proud, we are acting as if God does not exist. In essence, we are a practical atheist. If we are aware of who God is, then who could have a thought of pride that enters into your heart when we contemplate the majesty of God?

Everything that you have, you receive it from the Lord. He is the great God of Heaven and Earth. Even your best skill cannot compare to Him. We would be like Job when he said to God: "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth" Job 40:4 (NKJV).

Luke 14:11 (NKJV) – “[W]hoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

John Calvin put it this way, he said, a proud heart and a humbled Christ are an oxymoron. A Christian is not acting like a Christian when he's proud. Because a humbled Christ makes a humbled Christian. How can you stand at the cross, think about what your Savior did for you, and be proud? It's impossible.

So when we're proud, At the moment of our pride, Stephen Sharnock would say this to us, the moment of our pride, we are acting as if God is not. We're acting like a practical atheist. Because if we are aware of the reality of God, who in the world can have a thought of pride entering into his heart? Everything you've received, you've received from the Lord. If you've received it from the Lord, why would you boast?

It's all his grace anyway. And he's the great God of heaven and earth and what you have is nothing compared to him so there's nothing to be proud of.