John Piper on Sanctification and Supposed Irrelevance

Here's an excerpt from a sermon John Piper delivered on May 19, 1984. Christianity, the Bible and doctrine were the last things on my mind at the time, but that was probably because I was 6 years old at the time. Obviously "sanctification" wasn't in my vocabulary yet. The excerpt is 593 words long, but DEFINITELY worth reading. It addresses the issue of the tendency of some preachers to omit biblical language in favor of introducing modern language in the name of relevance. I'll let the excerpt speak for itself.

"Sanctification" is a very irrelevant word, but it is not an irrelevant reality. It's like a hundred technical medical terms. Nobody but doctors use them, but your life depends on the reality they stand for. "Sanctification" comes from two Latin words: sanctus which means holy, and ficare which means make. So to sanctify means to make holy. But, of course, the word "holy" isn't much more relevant today than sanctification—what with "holy mackerel" and "holy cow" and "holy buckets"—we've just about ruined one of the highest and most valuable words in the Bible.

I don't think there is any point in trying to invent new words for these old realities. It would take too long and by the time the new words got established people would already be using them for a banged finger. Instead, I think we should dig into the minds of the biblical authors until we see the reality they were talking about when they said "sanctified." And then, whether we use their word or not, we should make sure of the reality behind the word "sanctification." You don't ever have to use the word "insulin," but if you are a diabetic, your life may depend on the reality. You may never have heard of the word hyperopia, but you won't be able to read unless you get glasses to correct it.

As irrelevant as the word sanctification may be where you work and in your neighborhood, the reality is very crucial, very contemporary, and very relevant. Suppose you've always concealed private sources of income when filling out your tax returns. Then you come to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and begin to tell the truth on your tax returns—that's sanctification. Suppose you're always on your husband's case, and then the Word of God pricks your conscience and you begin to preach less and look for ways to show respect—that's sanctification. Suppose you're sleeping with your girlfriend, and you meet Jesus Christ and get the courage to move out—that's sanctification.

There are living images of sanctification in our world today which are more real, more authentic than all the people put together who think sanctification is passé. Malcolm Muggeridge takes Mother Teresa as an example:

I think a person like her comes into the world, not by chance, and radiates the Christian faith at its most simple, most pure, most effective level. She takes any baby that is given to her and looks after it. She brings in dying people from the streets who might live for only a quarter of an hour. When they leave this life with a loving Christian face beside them instead of one of rejection, she would say that it is well worth it. She is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the age—abortion is a horror to her, and all the attitude of mind associated with it. (Eternity, April 1984, p. 27)

When a young woman living in the security and comfort of middle class Western society moves to Calcutta in obedience to Jesus, that is sanctification, and it is not irrelevant. Don't let the irrelevance of the word mislead you. The reality is immensely important.

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org