Man and his Pride
A Sermon on Pride from John 7:18
Scripture
18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Sermon Description
Perhaps the greatest contrast in all of the Bible is the humility of Christ and the pride of humankind. In this sermon on pride from John 7:18 titled “Man and His Pride,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues teaching and preaching on the characteristics of unbelief and reaches the ultimate reason people do not believe the gospel: pride. In teaching on the fallen nature of humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ is not interested in an academic or psychological analysis of pride. Instead, His love for sinners drives His words. With the final fate of persisting unbelief being hell, Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks the listener to confront their own unbelief. Considering modern scientific hubris, one must consider if they will gamble their eternal destiny on the theories of people or will become like little children at the feet of Christ? Will they lean on intellect, learning, and the world’s philosophies or gladly receive the Word of God? Does the sin of pride, selfishness, and self-centeredness consume one’s life or do they live for the glory and worship of the true God? In this important message, Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks and answers these many pressing questions. Listen as he challenges prideful self-glorification and encourages finding rescue in the good news of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- There are only two teachings confronting mankind: God's revelation or human opinion.
- Jesus claims that he seeks God's glory alone. His behavior, teaching, obedience, and sacrifice substantiate this claim.
- The ultimate cause of unbelief and sin is pride - seeking one's own glory rather than God's. This is taught throughout the Bible.
- Pride makes people dishonest in their thinking, unwilling to admit wrong or change their minds. They defend themselves rather than seek truth.
- The teaching of Christ is hateful to the proud because it exposes their sin and need for salvation. It wounds their pride.
- The gospel is intolerable to the proud because it says that they are lost, hopeless, and need to become like children to be saved.
- The proud man's rejection of Christ is tragic folly. He knows little yet glories in himself. He rejects truth and eternal life for pride.
- To be saved one must "stoop down" in humility, repent of pride, and believe the gospel. The alternative is eternal death.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.