Hi Greg,  

 

The definition of 'promise' is : A declaration of assurance  by someone that they will perform a particular act in the future. It is not something that is immediate, but rather it is something in the  future. 

 

The word "promise" occurs in the Bible a total of 111 times. 42 times in  the Old Testament , and 69 times in the New Testament. The "promise" of salvation to come in the future is found in :

 

Ephesians 1:12-13

"That we should be to the praise of His glory WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST. In whom you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of YOUR SALVATION,  in whom also after that you believed, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE." 

 

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT:

 

We believers DID NOT receive our salvation when we first believed ,  but rather WE WERE SEALED WITH "THE PROMISE" OF OUR FUTURE SALVATION by the Holy Spirit. 

 

Blessings to you.