Salvation in Romans 13:11

[InChristAlways]

Hi. I have a question on Paul's use of the word "salvation" in these passages. In Hebrews 9 it says Jesus will appear once more for "salvation". In 2 corin 6 and romans 13, Paul says their "salvation" was near.
If Paul was talking to believers in Christ, what salvation was he telling them about?

Salvation from what and what did Paul mean by it being "Nearer"?
Reading through Exodus, one of the greatest OT events in the Bible described salvation of the Hebrews from the Egyptians, so it could also mean salvation from enemies. Back in Paul's times there were really 2 enemies, the apostate jews and pagan gentiles. The jews felt their messiah was coming to set up an "earthly" kingdom so they of course missed Jesus as the True messiah. The pagan gentiles didn't believe in God.
I guess the question is, did Paul's followers receive that salvation or is this continuous or future? I look at this as the elect are sheltered and "saved" from enemies now and in the future according to God's will and His plans for those that Christ elects to be His disciples. Thanks.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.

Romans 13:11 And [do] this, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation[#4991] [is] nearer[#1452] than when we [first] believed.


1452 egguteron eng-goo'-ter-on neuter of the comparative of 1451; nearer:--nearer.1451 eggus eng-goos' from a primary verb agcho (to squeeze or throttle; akin to the base of 43); near (literally or figuratively, of place or time):--from , at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready.


Salvation:
4991 soteria so-tay-ree'-ah feminine of a derivative of 4990 as (properly, abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally):--deliver, health, salvation, save, saving. 1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation

a) deliverance from the molestation of enemies b) in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation 1) of Messianic salvation 2) salvation as the present possession of all true Christians 3) future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.
++++
Fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and most importantly the pleasure of sin. A.W. Pink

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

[ray kikkert]

Calvins commentary on the verse in question:

11. Moreover, etc. He enters now on another subject of exhortation, that as the rays of celestial life had begun to shine on us as it were at the dawn, we ought to do what they are wont to do who are in public life and in the sight of men, who take diligent care lest they should commit anything that is base or unbecoming; for if they do anything amiss, they see that they are exposed to the view of many witnesses. But we, who always stand in the sight of God and of angels, and whom Christ, the true sun of righteousness, invites to his presence, we indeed ought to be much more careful to beware of every kind of pollution.
The import then of the words is this, "Since we know that the seasonable time has already come, in which we should awake from sleep, let us cast aside whatever belongs to the night, let us shake off all the works of darkness, since the darkness itself has been dissipated, and let us attend to the works of light, and walk as it becomes those who are enjoying the day."The intervening words are to be read as in a parenthesis.
As, however, the words are metaphorical, it may be useful to consider their meaning: Ignorance of God is what he calls night; for all who are thus ignorant go astray and sleep as people do in the night. The unbelieving do indeed labor under these two evils, they are blind and they are insensible; but this insensibility he shortly after designated by sleep, which is, as one says, an image of death. By light he means the revelation of divine truth, by which Christ the sun of righteousness arises on us. 1 He mentions awake, by which he intimates that we are to be equipped and prepared to undertake the services which the Lord requires from us. The works of darkness are shameful and wicked works; for night, as some one says, is shameless. The armor of light represents good, and temperate, and holy actions, such as are suitable to the day; and armor is mentioned rather than works, because we are to carry on a warfare for the Lord.
But the particles at the beginning, And this, are to be read by themselves, for they are connected with what is gone before; as we say in Latin Adhoec -- besides, or proeterea -- moreover. The time, he says, was known to the faithful, for the calling of God and the day of visitation required a new life and new morals, and he immediately adds an explanation, and says, that it was the hour to awake: for it is not cro>nov but kairo<v which means a fit occasion or a seasonable time. 2
For nearer is now our salvation, etc. This passage is in various ways perverted by interpreters. Many refer the word believed to the time of the law, as though Paul had said, that the Jews believed before Christ came; which view I reject as unnatural and strained; and surely to confine a general truth to a small part of the Church, would have been wholly inconsistent. Of that whole assembly to which he wrote, how few were Jews? Then this declaration could not have been suitable to the Romans. Besides, the comparison between the night and the day does in my judgment dissipate every doubt on the point. The declaration then seems to me to be of the most simple kind, -- "Nearer is salvation now to us than at that time when we began to believe:" so that a reference is made to the time which had preceded as to their faith. For as the adverb here used is in its import indefinite, this meaning is much the most suitable, as it is evident from what follows."

Hope this is of help,