A Fourfold Salvation by A. W. Pink - Salvation from the Presence of Sin

In this final aspect of our salvation, as considered in A. W. Pink's article A Fourfold Salvation, Pink considers how we are, or better will be, saved from the presence of sin.

Pink begins by emphasizing that we do not currently live in the actualized fullness of this aspect of salvation:

We now turn to that aspect of our subject which has to do solely with the future. Sin is yet to be completely eradicated from the believer's being, so that he shall appear before God without any spot or blemish. True, this is his legal status even now, yet it has not become so in his state or experience. As God views the believer in Christ, he appears before Him in all the excellency of his Sponsor, but as God views him as he yet is in himself (and that He does so is proved by His chastenings), He beholds all the ruin which the Fall has wrought in him. But this will not always be the case: no, blessed be His name, the Lord is reserving the best wine for the last. And even now we have tasted that He is gracious, but the fulness of His grace will only be entered into and enjoyed by us after this world is left behind.

I love how Pink discusses Christ's impact and influence on our salvation:

Our salvation from the pleasure of sin is effected by Christ's taking up His abode in our hearts: “Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20). Our salvation from the penalty of sin was secured by Christ's sufferings on the Cross where He endured the punishment due our iniquities. Our salvation from the power of sin is obtained by the gracious operations of the Spirit which Christ sends to His people—therefore He is designated “the Spirit of Christ” (Rom. 8:9; and cf. Gal. 4:6; Rev. 3:1). Our salvation from the presence of sin will be accomplished at Christ's second advent: “for our citizenship is in heaven, from whence we also look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself” (Phil. 3:20,21).

Finally, Pink provides an excellent summation of our salvation when it is considered how it is applied to us in terms of the order of salvation:

Salvation from the pleasure or love of sin takes place at our regeneration ; salvation from the penalty or punishment of sin occurs at our justification ; salvation from the power or dominion of sin is accomplished during our practical sanctification ; salvation from the presence or inbeing of sin is consummated at glorification : “whom He justified, them He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30).