The verb “to save” and noun “salvation” are used in the Bible in the past, present and future tense. For example, Ephesians 2:8 says I have been saved. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says “are being saved”. Acts 15:11 says we “will be saved”. These three facets of salvation are justification – past; sanctification – present; glorification – future.

The most famous text regarding salvation is of course John 3:16. The word believe here indicates an action that began in the past and continues through the present time into the future. Young’s Literal Translation puts it this way, “ … that every one who is believing in him may not perish, …” “By believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” is how Eugene Peterson phrases it in the Message. Both of these versions render the Greek verb for believe with a present participle in English, indicating an ongoing action.

John 3:14 indicates what kind of believing Jesus had in mind. It is the kind of trust, or faith, that was required of the Israelites during the plague of serpents. See Numbers 21:8. These passages show that there was a plague of venomous snakes that were biting the Israelites. Moses made a bronze serpent and lifted it up in the middle of the camp. Everyone who fixed their eyes on that bronze serpent and continued to look at it, lived. F.F. Bosworth refers to this passage a number of times in his classic book “Christ the Healer”.

My mentor, the late Kenneth E. Hagin, used to refer often to this note on Romans 1:16 from the Scofield reference Bible:

The Heb. and Gr. words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses: (1) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin (Lk. 7:50; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; Eph. 2:5, 8; 2 Tim. 1:9) and is safe. (2) The believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom. 6:14; Phil. 1:19; 2:12, 13; 2 Thes. 2:13; Rom. 8:2; Gal. 2:19, 20; 2 Cor. 3:18). (3) The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ (Rom. 13:11; Heb. 10:36; 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 John 3:2). Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without works (Rom. 3:27, 28; 4:1-8; 6:23; Eph. 2:8). The divine order is: first salvation, then works (Eph. 2:9, 10; Tit. 3:5-8).

I have trusted, am trusting and will trust Christ to save me. He has saved, is saving and will save me. Thank God!