Calling on the Name of the Lord

By Jeff Curtis

The prophet Joel proclaimed that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be delivered” (Joel 2:32). Paul quoted these words when he said, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Paul’s message assures us that, even though the world is full of uncertainties, we can be certain of this truth. If we “call on the name of the Lord,” we will be saved.

What does it mean for us to “call on the name of the Lord?” It’s a mistake to think that it means we can just merely believe in Jesus and “call on His name “by professing our faith, and then He will save us. Really, Jesus Himself said that just believing and crying out, “Lord, Lord,” was not a guarantee of salvation (Matt.7:21).

So, what does it mean? In Acts 2:21, Peter quoted from Joel2:32. He went on to preach about Jesus. When people believed what he had said about Christ, they were struck with the reality of their sin and asked, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter told them to “repent and …be baptized” in order to be forgiven of their sins (Acts 2:38). About three thousand people obeyed in repentance and baptism, and so were saved. In response to Peter’s application of the prophet Joel’s words, by obeying the Lord through repentance and being baptized, they were “calling” on His name – and the result was that they were saved.

That conclusion is confirmed in the account of Saul’s conversion. He saw Jesus in a vision and was told to go into the city, where he would be told what he must do to be saved (Acts 9:5-6). When the preacher Annanias came to him, he told Saul (Paul), “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). When one is baptized, therefore, he is “calling on the name of the Lord.” At that time, he receives forgiveness through the washing away of his sins.

Any person who will “call on the name of the Lord” will be saved when he obeys the gospel. After believing in Christ and confessing his faith, the non-Christian must repent and be baptized. This is what makes him a Christian, a member of the saved body of Christ. Why would anyone who knows this truth delay?

God’s Answer to Prayer

By Jeff Curtis

We ought to be happy with whatever answer God gives us, because God knows best. Great minds have struggled with the question “Why did God save Peter from execution and not James?” One answer could be that in God’s plans and purposes, the death of James could be more advantageous, while Peter being released would do more good. That the death of one to the twelve could be in any way advantageous is remarkable since the church had been in existence for such a short time. This view could indicate that the apostles had been highly successful at developing other men as leaders.

That answer is without a doubt correct, but there is something else we should think about. Maybe we’re asking the wrong question. Maybe we should ask, “Why did James receive the honor of being the first apostle to receive his reward, and Peter had to wait several more years before being ushered into Paradise?” The way we usually ask the question is proof that we don’t look at events as God does. The Psalmist said, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15). Imagine a group of peasants laboring in the hot sun outside the palace. From time to time, the gate of the palace is opened and one laborer is invited inside. Those still outside wouldn’t mourn for the one who entered the palace, but instead, they would mourn for themselves. Each one would ask, “Why couldn’t it have been me?” The point is that whether God apparently says “No” to our prayers, as He did in the case of James, or “Yes” as He did in the case of Peter, every answer is exactly the right one, whether or not we can see it at the time. Let’s learn to trust in the Lord and “pray without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17).

Warren Wiersbe suggested that Peter may have had his miraculous deliverance in mind when he wrote 1Peter 3:12 (“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”) Wiersbe used the words of this verse to summarize Acts 12: (1) God sees our trials (vv.1-4) – “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.” (2) God hears our prayers (vv.5-17) – “And His ears are open to their prayers.” (3) God deals with our enemies (vv.18-25) – “But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Meditate on this:

1 Kings 8:56

 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.