The term "salvation" and defintion(s)?

[eternalmatters]

I saw someone say on a board that the term "salvation" does not just mean being saved, as in ..."now a Christian".

I'm looking deeper into 2 Corinithians 7 and am confused. I think maybe it's for the very reason someone stated...salvation does not always mean the same thing.

He is writing to saved people, correct?

8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
[glow=red,2,300]
10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. [/glow]

I mean...I heard 7:10 one million times as a Way of the Master evangelist!! But...the context cannot mean how I've heard it used...I don't think.

Can someone help?

[ambassador]

Eternalmatters, "salvation" does not always mean "eternal salvation from hellfire." For instance, in the passage you're referring to, "salvation" is "salvation from defeat." That is, these Corinthians were already saved from Hellfire (Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to them as saved people). Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to deal with a number of problems within the Corinthian church; evidently, the Corinthians sorted out their problems and corrected their lifestyles, and now Paul is writing his second letter to them how they repented and this changed their behavior. Because they had a change in mind (repentance), this led to them living a life reflecting God's grace. They were no longer going to let Satan defeat them with carnal living like in 1 Corinthians. In other words, their TESTIMONY was saved.

In 1 Timothy 4:16, "salvation" is not referring to salvation from Hellfire, because Timothy is already saved. This is a reference to salvation from false teaching. If we continue in sound doctrine, we will be saved from the burden, confusion, and deception of false teaching.

Anyway, hope that helps! In the context, it should be evident what "salvation" it is.