Salvation, three times over

Saved from sin's penalty, power, and presence

It's important to remember that a word in scripture often has more than one connotation.  There can be several variations or applications, and it is the context where the term is found that determines how it is to be applied.  Let me share with you what is meant by “saved.”  

Salvation can mean that one is initially saved from the penalty of their sin through justification; or that one is saved from the power of sin through sanctification; or, that one will be saved from the  presence of sin through glorification. 

Penalty
There is salvation from the penalty for you sins – your initial justification. 

Romans 4:25

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 5:1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:9

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

In such instances, 'salvation’ in the bible describes the salvation of a person’s soul and being declared righteous in the eyes of God (justification), making it possible to go to heaven.

Romans 5:18b

…even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of [eternal] life.

Power
The bible also uses the term ‘salvation’ in regard to sanctification.  There is an ongoing salvation from the power of sin – your sanctification...

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

...as you study and grow in the word of God’s grace through Paul so as to be saved from the confusion of Satan, thus allowing you to understand God’s word.  Sanctification, itself, occurs at our spiritual baptism with Christ as believers. 

Romans 6:3

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

It's important to note that the issue of being saved in 1 Corinthians 15:2 is not from the penalty of sin... 

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

...because the Corinthians to whom Paul was writing were already saved.

1 Corinthians 1:2

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

These are saints; they have sanctification 'in Christ Jesus.'

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The saved in 1 Corinthians 15:2 are those saints saved from confusion, particularly in regard to the resurrection 'if they keep in memory...'.  

Paul deals in 1 Corinthians 15 with the physical, bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (the first fruit), and those who are his at his coming…

1 Corinthians 15:23

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

…whether it is the church the body of Christ at the rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-17) or the Old Testament saints in Israel who will receive the earthly Kingdom (Matt. 19:28), in his own order.

So far, we see scripture shows we are saved from the penalty of sin and the power of sin.

Colossians 1:13

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Presence
Ultimately, you will be saved from the very presence of sin – your glorification by being taken out of this world.  At the rapture, the day of redemption, when we will be saved from the bondage of this corrupt body and the corrupt world we live in (the presence of sin), we will receive our new glorified bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:41-43

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:   It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1 Corinthians 15:50-54

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.    

2 Corinthians 4:14

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.