Calling on the Name of the Lord
While out roaming around recently I came across an evangelistic pamphlet in a store. Like many you will see, and like the message of many evangelists in our country, its theme centered on the quote, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” As is often the case, the pamphlet explained that all a person needs to do is say a prayer inviting Jesus into their heart. In this edition of Waking Up Eutychus, I’d like to challenge that concept.
On the day of Pentecost, when the apostle Peter preached the first resurrection sermon, he quoted from the prophet Joel when he said, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). What is the apostle Peter is also in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, when he says, “for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him; for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:12, 13). Joel’s prophecy states it, the apostles Peter and Paul preach it, so isn’t it true? Indeed, it is. My contention is with taking that sentence and turning it into the “just invite Jesus into your heart to be saved” idea. One does not equate to the other.
The biblically adept person may quickly realize that there seems to be a contradiction. Didn’t Jesus once state, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). More is involved with the quote from Joel than simply calling out, “Lord, Lord.” More is involved than just mentally believing. More involved than inviting him into your heart.
Eric Lyons in a related article within Apologetics Press, says that to “call on” someone is usually recognized to involve action more than mere verbal petition. He says when a doctor goes to “call on” a patient, he doesn’t just say, “I wish you well, you owe me for the office call.” On the contrary, he involves himself in service to that patient. If a male suitor to a young lady wishes to “call on” her, it means he grooms himself and prepares to make her happy. Lyons also says that when we study how this expression is used throughout scripture, the conclusion will be that a deeper meaning is implied. He lists the example of Paul appealing to Caesar, with the word “appeal” being the Greek word used we translate into “call”. He was calling on Caesar as a Roman citizen to judge his case. But it required him to submit to a process, doing all necessary to follow this process to Rome and stand before Caesar.
When Peter quoted Joel in Acts 2, he then told them how to go about “calling on the name of the Lord.” He explained the process. Notice, even after Peter quoted Joel the crowd listening to him didn’t just verbally call out to be saved, instead they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). And Peter explains the process. “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (Acts 2:38, 39).
Similarly, in Romans 10 where Paul quotes Joel, if you continue reading, the question is asked, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” Believing alone is not calling on him, otherwise why that question? It was the same on Pentecost, after Peter’s sermon they believed, and then asked, “What shall we do?” Calling on the name of the Lord is to seek his way, to allow mental belief to motivate action belief, and to do what Peter set in motion, repenting and being baptized, identifying with what saves: Jesus’ death, burial, & resurrection.
Question: What about you, have you “called on the name of the Lord” by repenting of sin and being baptized in Jesus’ name? It doesn’t end there, a faithful walk is required, but it starts us down the path.
(FYI: For those interested, the Christian Restoration Association featured one of my articles on their webpage recently. To check it out, go to: www.thecra.org and scroll down on the home page. Title: A Mighty Fortress is Our God.)
On the day of Pentecost, when the apostle Peter preached the first resurrection sermon, he quoted from the prophet Joel when he said, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). What is the apostle Peter is also in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, when he says, “for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him; for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:12, 13). Joel’s prophecy states it, the apostles Peter and Paul preach it, so isn’t it true? Indeed, it is. My contention is with taking that sentence and turning it into the “just invite Jesus into your heart to be saved” idea. One does not equate to the other.
The biblically adept person may quickly realize that there seems to be a contradiction. Didn’t Jesus once state, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). More is involved with the quote from Joel than simply calling out, “Lord, Lord.” More is involved than just mentally believing. More involved than inviting him into your heart.
Eric Lyons in a related article within Apologetics Press, says that to “call on” someone is usually recognized to involve action more than mere verbal petition. He says when a doctor goes to “call on” a patient, he doesn’t just say, “I wish you well, you owe me for the office call.” On the contrary, he involves himself in service to that patient. If a male suitor to a young lady wishes to “call on” her, it means he grooms himself and prepares to make her happy. Lyons also says that when we study how this expression is used throughout scripture, the conclusion will be that a deeper meaning is implied. He lists the example of Paul appealing to Caesar, with the word “appeal” being the Greek word used we translate into “call”. He was calling on Caesar as a Roman citizen to judge his case. But it required him to submit to a process, doing all necessary to follow this process to Rome and stand before Caesar.
When Peter quoted Joel in Acts 2, he then told them how to go about “calling on the name of the Lord.” He explained the process. Notice, even after Peter quoted Joel the crowd listening to him didn’t just verbally call out to be saved, instead they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). And Peter explains the process. “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (Acts 2:38, 39).
Similarly, in Romans 10 where Paul quotes Joel, if you continue reading, the question is asked, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” Believing alone is not calling on him, otherwise why that question? It was the same on Pentecost, after Peter’s sermon they believed, and then asked, “What shall we do?” Calling on the name of the Lord is to seek his way, to allow mental belief to motivate action belief, and to do what Peter set in motion, repenting and being baptized, identifying with what saves: Jesus’ death, burial, & resurrection.
Question: What about you, have you “called on the name of the Lord” by repenting of sin and being baptized in Jesus’ name? It doesn’t end there, a faithful walk is required, but it starts us down the path.
(FYI: For those interested, the Christian Restoration Association featured one of my articles on their webpage recently. To check it out, go to: www.thecra.org and scroll down on the home page. Title: A Mighty Fortress is Our God.)
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus