Calling on the Name of the Lord
By Timothy Glover
Joel 2:32 is quoted in Romans 10:13 and Acts 2:21. It reads, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.But what does this phrase mean?
First, the word "calling" cannot mean just stating His name. Jesus said that not everyone who says,Lord, Lord shall be saved. (Mat.7:21) Although one who calls on the Lord may be moved to use this verbal expression. The text reads, "Whosoever calls shall be saved and Jesus tells us that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will be saved. This is not a contradiction. "Calling on" is merely looking to someone for help. It is a show of dependency. I may "call on" a friend to help me in a crisis without ever saying his name. I will communicate my need to the friend when I am convinced of my need. However, the text does not read, "whosoever calls on Jesus". It reads, "Whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus....." Is there a difference?
Calling on the name refers to an action done by one’s power. The action or that which I want accomplished is salvation. How will I accomplish this for myself? Seeing I cannot accomplish it alone, I must look to the power of Jesus to save me. To illustrate the use of the word "name", imagine a person who is sent for service with the advice, "Tell them you know me, or that I’m your father, or sent you (the blank representing a name). The idea is that you will have more power and greater service if you associate with that name. The name itself stands for the person which it represents.
We see a biblical example in Acts 4:4-7 where Peter explains that the miracle he did was by the name of Jesus. He adds in verse twelve that salvation is only in His name. The only access we have to God is through the power of Jesus or "in His name." If salvation is the desired goal, I must depend on Jesus and Him only to find it. Jesus is recorded saying, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Jn. 14:6)
Calling and prayer are not the same. Rom. 10:14-15 teaches that calling on the Lord for salvation depends on hearing and believing the words of a preacher sent with the gospel. When Cornelius prayed, he did it before Peter was sent, before he heard, and before he could believe (Acts 10). Yet, Paul says one cannot call on the name until after he believes the message (Rom. 10, Acts 11:14).
When Cornelius believed the preaching, he was awakened to his need for salvation. Calling on the name of the Lord for it, we see that he was commanded to be baptized (Acts 10:48). Paul was "calling on the name of the Lord" when he was baptized. ".. why do you tarry, Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling upon the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16) Compare Acts 18:8, 8:12. The order is belief, calling on the name with being baptized. We call on his name by submitting in humble obedience to his will.
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