Even a scratch that became infected could lead to death. So, to be healed, to be made whole, was also a rescue from death. Thus when Paul wrote about salvation, he was not primarily focused on rescue from pain and punishment, here and hereafter. His focus was on the soul healing that makes it possible for us to be the persons God intends us to be. The Good News of salvation is not merely that God's merciful grace rescues us from punishment we deserve.
Salvation is much more than merely rescue.
The Good News of salvation is that God's grace can turn our living around so that we can live each moment of everyday as God intends. Salvation is the offering of the possibility of living as God intends and discovering the fulfillment God's grace offers. And in the passage that was read earlier, Paul tells us that this spiritual health, this way of life, this salvation, this wholeness of soul, is closer to us now than when we first believed. And in truth it is. We are as close as our next decision to living as God intends us to live.