The Bible teaches that the believer experiences salvation in three tenses, past, present, and future.
                                       
1.Past

When a person trusts Christ they are saved from the penalty or consequences of sin.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life (John 5:24).

Being saved from the penalty of sin is also known as justification.
                                 
2.Present

Presently we are being saved from sin's power.

As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).

This is known as sanctification. The believer is presently being sanctified or set apart to God. The process is accomplished by observing the following the various commandments of God.

Studying God's Word

To know the mind of God the believer should study His Word.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

It is through the Bible where God speaks to us.

Yielding To Christ

We are instructed to yield to Christ.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2).

                         
Confession Of Sin

Sin should be promptly confessed.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

  
Knowing what God requires from us, obeying His commandments, and confessing sin in our life are means by which we can be set apart to God.  

3.The Future

Eventually we will be saved from sin's presence.

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 (Hebrews 9:28).

When we are saved from the presence of sin it is known as glorification:

Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

Salvation, therefore, is in three tenses. We have been justified, we are being sanctified, and we shall be glorified.