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"The Ancient Landmark"

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

"Calling On The Name Of The Lord"

Jarrod Jacobs

I am sure that our dear readers have heard certain preachers say words to the effect, "If you are not a Christian, all you need to do is call upon the name of the Lord, and you can be saved right now." Some will tell you to say, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner" for salvation, or similar things. There are many tracts in print that state that one should pray a certain prayer, and then write back to declare their "decision." Those justifying such actions will turn to Romans 10:13 where Paul wrote, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" and will say that they are doing what Paul said to do. Such teaching is a misapplication of Romans 10:13 and is nothing more than a variation on the old denominational teaching of "praying through" to God for salvation. The difference is, these days, one is guaranteed he/she will "get through" on the first try! What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? Let us read the context of Romans 10 and find out.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:13-17).

Please notice that after Paul says we must call upon the name of the Lord in order to be saved, the chapter does not end. He asks a series of questions that clarify what it means to call upon the name of the Lord. To call upon the name of the Lord, one must: 1) hear the gospel via the preacher; 2) believe the gospel; and 3) obey the gospel! Calling upon the name of the Lord is a comprehensive thing, not simply saying the name, "Lord" nor repeating some prayer asking God for mercy.

In Acts 2:21 we read the same phrase. Here, Peter is quoting Joel 2:28-32. Peter shows that the apostles speaking in tongues that day was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Acts 2:16), and said, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). What did he mean when he said this? Were the Jews commanded to say, "Lord"? Were they commanded to say some prayer asking for God's mercy on them? No! They were told to "hear these words" (Acts 2:22). Peter then showed them without question that Jesus truly is the Son of God (v. 23-35), and said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). To "know assuredly" is to believe. When the people asked what they needed to do to be released from the guilt of murdering the Son of God, Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost .... And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized..." (Acts 2:38-41). This is "calling on the name of the Lord"!

Before his conversion, Saul, who became the apostle Paul, was commanded by Ananias to "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). He had seen Christ (Acts 9:3-6; I Cor. 15:8), but that wasn't enough to save him. He then went into Damascus where he was told what he "must do" by Ananias (Acts 9:6, 17-18). Thus far, Paul believed that Jesus is the Son of God, and had spent three days and nights in repentance (Acts 9:9). But this was not enough to save him. Finally, he was told not to wait any longer, but arise and be baptized in order to wash away his sins. In so doing, he was calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).

Therefore, when one calls upon the name of the Lord, he is simply obeying God's plan of salvation! That is to hear God's word (Rom. 10:17), believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), repent, and be baptized (Acts 2:38)! Is this not simple? Of course, it is! Let us be about encouraging people to call upon the name of the Lord, as the Bible directs us to do, that all might be saved before it is too late (II Pet. 3:9; II Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:7-8; Mk. 16:16; Acts 16:33)!

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