Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Both Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13 state that anyone who "calls" on the name of the Lord will be saved.

What does this mean?

By "calling" are we referring to mere vocalization, or must something else be attached to the plea for salvation to the name?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Acts 22:16

arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the lord

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

I tried the "calling on the Name of the Lord" hoping to be saved. However, I always felt like there was something more to it than just calling on the Lord. When God led me to a UPC church to be baptized in the Name of Jesus, that is when I knew I had found Him.

Too bad so many UPC throw their converts away over non issues for salvation. I'd still be there right now if it weren't for the non-issues.

So you felt like you needed to do something to save yourself?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

the bible says to save yourself, do you feel like you will be saved by doing absolutely nothing? all people are automatically saved?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

It means what it says. If you want to be saved, you have to call on the name of the Lord. I believe it involves vocalization of his name (after all the believer is calling on Jesus to save him/her). I think the stress in that verse is "whosoever" calls on the name of the Lord. It's something we do throughout the process of the new birth.

If I am drowning and I grab onto the hand of the lifeguard as he reaches for me, am I saving myself?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

:thumbsup
You had the option to reach out. The Lifeguard could stand there reaching out with all the fervor he had (shouting and coaching), but it is up to you to take his hand.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Well....NO.

But being completely and absolutely ignorant of all scripture, I did not know what to do.

But like Amanah says, are people going to get saved by doing nothing at all to help themselves? Even the Bible says that people must repent and get baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin. That requires an action on our part doesn't it?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

...or do we stand there twiddling our thumbs expecting God to pick us up and transport us to where He says to go?

Salvation is a gift. We have the option of taking it or refusing it. But God is the one who saves. If we could save ourselves we wouldn't need Him at all.

We confess. We cry out for help. We believe He is willing and able to save us. By doing so we lay hold of the actions of our rescuer.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Sure, I agree with that, to some extent. But...you need someone to do the baptizing. Jesus was our example when he allowed John to baptize Him.



13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on 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?
15 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!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Consider the Ethiopian Eunuch...powerful scripture here: Acts 8:26-39

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Did John save Jesus?

Also, look at how one "obeys the gospel."

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is the required action. It's how we obey the gospel. Baptism is because of, not for, salvation.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I see you trying to make a point about having "faith", but is faith really an action? What remits sin? Faith?

Jesus had no need to be "saved". He was baptized for an example to us. Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Why would people notwant to be baptized in Jesus Name if the opportunity is there to do so?

I've seen invalids get baptized using physical therapy lifts that dunked them into the water with the Name of Jesus being called over them. Those people would not have traded that experience for all the world's riches.

Now it might be a different story if there was no opportunity such as the thief on the cross. That is God's prerogative to whom He saves and how.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Effectively, yes and no.

On the one hand you could choose to drown and reject the hand of the Lifeguard. By grabbing on the hand of the lifeguard you effectively chose to live and thus saved yourself from certain death.

But on the other hand the without the Lifeguard offering salvation you have no means of being saved. You see without the lifeguard, even if you chose not to drown, there's no salvation. He saves you from drowning where at first you had no hope of salvation.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

With over 100 million (confirmed) people baptized in Jesus Name world wide, I think you can find a Church that does Baptized in Jesus Name. UPC is only about 5 Million. Just a small fraction.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

The Holy Ghost had just fell.

2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 2:15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 2:16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

2:17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
2:18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
2:19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
2:20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
2:21 It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’*

In context calling on the name of YHWH is about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. To Peter that was salvation. Thats his purpose in his Pentecostal sermon. The reason Jesus came into the world died and rose again was not only for the removal of sins but so the Holy Spirit would be given, that all who receive could be one with Messiah.

One calls on the name of YHWH in repentance and baptism. One calls on his name to receive the Spirit. Its summed up in Acts 2:38. New Testament salvation preached by the Apostles is not the same as Evangelical Protestantism.

One could start their journey just be calling on the name but it would not be the new creation experience of the New Testament Church.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Incorrect. Baptism is FOR the Remission of Sins. It is not just a "Faith in Christ" statement. (Acts 2:38.)

Jesus told us in Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Notice the keyword in the sentence. AND. Believes AND is baptized. You can not be saved with out being baptized. That word and is KAI. It can be said as AND or EVEN. So let us read it in a different manner.

"Whoever believes, even baptized, will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

So you could equate Baptism in Jesus Name as believing on Jesus Christ for Salvation.

Either way you look at it, to be saved you MUST be baptized to be saved.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

FYI: I believe water baptism is to be obeyed by new converts. But just for talking sake, let's look at the amount of times Jesus stress believing in Him to be saved.

John 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(Please note when Jesus says a person passes from DEATH unto LIFE)

John 6
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Just to mention a few...

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Sister, I don't think you read my post correctly.
This is what I wrote:

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?
I tried the "calling on the Name of the Lord" hoping to be saved. However, I always felt like there was something more to it than just calling on the Lord. When God led me to a UPC church to be baptized in the Name of Jesus, that is when I knew I had found Him.

Too bad so many UPC throw their converts away over non issues for salvation. I'd still be there right now if it weren't for the non-issues.
***************
After I researched several churches, I was baptized in the Lovely Name of Jesus in late 1981.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

You are wrong.

Baptism is NOT for the remission of sins.

Is that why Jesus was baptized?
If Jesus is our example, and we are to do what He does, why did He get baptized?
What did Jesus say was the reasoning behind His decision to get baptized?


A person does not get baptized in order to get saved.
Salvation is by faith.
Baptism is our testimony of the saving faith we have in Jesus Christ.

Was Cornelius filled with the Holy Ghost without his sins being remitted?
Did God pour His Spirit into a dirty, sinful vessel?

The story of the very first Gentile conversion contradicts the doctrine that a person is not saved until they are baptized.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

No, it is not saying a prayer. It is a belief in the heart (results in justification), and the oral confession, calling on the name of the Lord, that gets the conversion and assurance, shall be saved. The faith statement, calling on the name of the Lord, means you put your trust in the event of Christ's resurrection for your salvation.

I'm a charismatic United Methodist minister. I was introduced to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and tongues by a UPCI pastor. I did receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and I spoke in tongues. Some in the Methodist church is getting it. When the UPC pastor tried to influence me to change from United Methodist to UPC, I disagree with the means of water baptism, the 'required' evidence of speaking in tongues, and I disagree with the standards of holiness, what to wear and not wear legalism.

However, I am absolutely convinced that we are saved by grace through faith without legalism. Yes, I preach Romans 10:13, ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’ for conversion as the only requirement for salvation. It is the moment you call upon the name of the Lord you SHALL BE SAVED.” I believe that just the faith statement, calling on the name of the Lord, is required for conversion, and I believe you do it without legalism, without being strict, without doctrinal conformity, without specific ritual procedures, without the ‘means’ of water baptism, and without speaking in tongues.

God Bless

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

So Peter was a liar? He made it clear it was for Remission of sins.

Now let the merry-go-round debate over the meaning os "eis" begin anew once again.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

If YOUR interpretaton of 1 obscure preposition contradicts the very clear portions of scripture, then your interpretation is wrong.


The book of Peter details the purpose of baptism.

Was St. Peter bi-polar?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

What that means for some is to have someone else, preferably a preacher, call upon the name of the Lord for you in following a baptismal ritual.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

... and they are wrong for adding to the Bible, whoever they are who believe that.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

I agree.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

:highfive

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

"depends on what the meaning of eis is" -Bill Clinton

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, 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.

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

It means whatever you want it to mean... to make you feel comfortable about your soul's security. Not that'd you'd accept anything to the contrary.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

You don't have to join UPC. You just need to go down in that water in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

"arise and be baptized and WASH AWAY THY SINS calling on the name of the lord" Acts 22:16

I mean you REALLY don't have to be a Bible scholar to see a correlation there between baptism being FOR the remission of sins and washing away sins. Unfortunetly for the "eis" crowd there is no "eis" in Acts 22:16 to play with... it just means what it says. Or maybe not...

Acts 2:38 "Repent (only if you're a REALLY bad person otherwise just say the "sinners prayer") and be baptized (if you feel like it) every one of you (the Jews) in the Name of Jesus Christ (or the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Ghost, or all three, or a combination of the three, or Yogi Bear, pick one it doesn't matter anyway) and you shall recieve the (added blessing) Gift of the (Baptism of, not the "measure of" that you get when you repent or say the sinners prayer) Holy Ghost"

That's good BIBLE TEACHIN' RIGHT THERE!

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

What's your comment on Acts 10:43. It was Peter who said it also, right?

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Hey Bro,
I think I sense a bit of sarcasm.
:nod

So that I don't misunderstand exactly what you believe, will you state plainly what you are trying to say in the above quote?

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

Christ instructed on what “should be preached” in (Luke 24:45-49). Paul introduced the "word of faith" that ‘was’ preached in (Rom. 10:8b). He went on to explain how to be saved by using logical explanatory markers throughout his writing (for). Paul’s mastery of expository writing was built up to the main emphasis of his letter: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

In Romans 10 verse 10, belief results in justification, and oral confession results in your salvation. Justification is an act of God that is performed independently of humans, unaided by humans, and without any human volition. Notice that believing in this Scripture is not the climax, and the confession alone is not adequate for salvation. Confession without believing from the heart is how churches and societies get false believers and false conversions. Even the great Protestant Reformers who taught the principle of salvation by faith alone (sola fide) also preached that intellectual (mental) assent alone does not bring salvation. According to Wallace, I observed that the present tense verbs for believe and confess are instantaneous presents (a.k.a., also known as punctiliar or aoristic present). Also according to Wallace, “The present tense may be used to indicate that an action is completed at the moment of speaking.” In other words, conversion occurs instantaneously in the present from a past aorist event for a future promise of salvation. Therefore, the moment you make just the faith statement, calling on the name of the Lord; you shall be saved.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

From the time of Enosh, the third human generation began to call upon the name of the Lord after realizing their fragileness, weakness, and mortality (Gen. 4:26). Bare faith justified Abraham alone, and he called on the name of the Lord before the law (Gen. 12:8). He called on the name of the Lord with just the bare faith statement, without any rules, even without any ‘standards of holiness,’ even without circumcision, and it occurred in the Old Testament. On the other hand, we are justified by faith only without being strict, having rules, or trusting in the weight of ritual. I believe it because the following is true: That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For it is with your heart you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth you confess and are saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).

Therefore, I am absolutely convinced that we are saved by grace through faith without legalism. First, some misinterpreted John 7:38-39: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (NIV). They interpreted it to mean people “have” to speak in tongues when they receive the Holy Spirit and become saved. How we “with joy” draw water out of the wells of salvation? Isaiah prophesied:

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name…” (Isa. 12:2-4, NIV).

You must call upon the name of the Lord in order to draw out the living waters from the wells of salvation. Further, you draw out the waters of salvation “with joy.” If your theological praxis is not done “with joy,” the belief system in question is not a healthy Biblical doctrine. Therefore, I believe now that speaking in tongues are a gift that a Christian can get, but it is not required evidence that everyone has to seek. I want to be clear about that. I will not preach that everyone has to speak in tongues to be saved. Many are familiar with Joel’s prophecy about the Holy Spirit, but those same people have not paid attention to the fact that receiving the Holy Spirit requires our calling on the name of the Lord.

Second, I used to believe that someone had to be ‘rebaptized’ (by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ) to be saved. Specifically, the belief was everyone had to be baptized that certain way, and if someone was baptized differently, they had to be rebaptized. I do not believe in ‘rebaptism’ in order to be saved or to become a member. I also do not believe that it is the baptism rite itself that we are saved. Third, I used to believe that everyone had to comply with a strict list of rules in order to be saved, to be a member of the church, and to be accepted by people in the church. Now, what matters is the sincerity in the heart.

Calling on the name of the Lord was not invented by us. The faith statement began with the third generation of humankind (Gen. 4:26). Enosh, the Son of Seth, means weak, frail, and mortal (Holladay, 22). Someone does not call on the name of the Lord when they do not realize they are weak, frail, and mortal. You do not need to call on the name of the Lord if you are strong, powerful, controlling, and immortal. Yet, patriarchs, prophets, and saints have spontaneously believed and called on the name of the Lord to be saved. The moment you call upon the name of the Lord; you SHALL BE SAVED.

On Sunday (July 18, 2004), a member from Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) introduced the following, “Romans 10:13 tells us that ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ” The Methodist encouraged me to call upon the name of the Lord for conversion without trusting in legalism, ritual, or speaking in tongues. Later, I was processing my insecurity, and I decided to try conversion with just the faith statement. Yes, I did do it. I called upon the name of the Lord for conversion, and I decided to do it without legalism. Yes, I had an instantaneous conversion the moment I called upon the name of the Lord. After this, I had a lot of assurance come upon me from the Lord. Now, I no longer have a sense of shame. Hence, no one will be put to shame (Rom. 10:11). I now have the witness of the Spirit assuring ME I am one of God's children. And, I know that Christ died for MY sins, and that MY sins are forgiven. And, I know that God has accepted ME and OTHERS without legalism and (false) standards. The more mature view of assurance took away my guilt and removed my fears.

Now, I believe that we are absolutely saved by grace through faith without legalism. I believe the means of salvation is justification by faith alone. I believe that calling on the name of the Lord is required for conversion, and someone can receive the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” without speaking in tongues. I believe that someone begins a relationship with God by their belief in the heart and confession of faith. I believe that conversion occurs instantaneously the moment you make just the faith statement, calling on the name of the Lord. Nevertheless, I want to encourage others to have faith, believe in the resurrection, and call upon the name of the Lord for conversion, and do it without legalism.


God Bless,

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

So a person needs to call on the name of the Lord to be saved and that is bare faith?

Not a process; Conversion is Instantaneous
 

Some more scriptural thoughts to ponder:

Conversion is not a long process of: water baptism in Jesus' name, Holy Spirit while waiting for evidence of speaking in tongues, standards of holiness, legalism, rituals, etc. etc.

I found out after looking at numerous conversion examples when people received assurance, forgiveness, was at the moment of belief and oral confession of faith. At one point is someone justified? At one point does someone receive the assurance, "Shall Be Saved?" At one point does one access grace? Receive the peace of God? Here is some additional Scriptures and points:

Romans 3:28 (NIV) - For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

-some refer to "works of the law" here as just Judaic legalism, but "works of the law" in the context of this verse is any legalism [standards].

Romans 5:1 (NIV) - Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:2 (NIV) - through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

1. Faith alone justifies a man
2. we have peace with God because of the justification
3. we access grace by faith only

Romans Chs. 1-6 dealt with justification by faith only
Romans 10 dealt with the practical and pastoral aspect of justification. The how someone is justified?

I used to be KJV only, but the NIV made it clear to me:

That if you confess with you mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Belief in heart = justification
confess with mouth = saved
justification and saved are symotaneous, and the belief and confessioni are instantaneous presents in the Greek New Testament.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13) is also instantaneous. Therefore, conversion is not a process of (water baptism, ritual, more ritual, speaking in tongues, standards, etc. etc,)

That is why I believe that conversion occurs at the moment of faith and belief when we, call upon the name of the Lord.

Re: Calling on the Name of the Lord
 

:santathumb


You are going to be in trouble for this!
(But I do agree)