Articles
Calling On His Name.
When we look at the phrase “Call on the name of the Lord” as found in (Romans 10:13),
we often get a little uneasy, maybe even a little nervous. We have come to think of this as
something associated with denominations, with people praying for salvation or asking Jesus to be
their personal savior. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. The phrase, “Call on the name
of the Lord” is biblical and does apply to all those who wish to be saved.
The clearest description of what this phrase means is found in Acts chapter 22. Here we
have Paul telling an angry mob about his own conversion story. He asked Jesus, “What shall I
do?” Jesus instructs him, “To arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things
which are appointed for you to do” (Acts 22:10). Paul demonstrated his belief in Jesus by going
into Damascus and waiting as he was instructed to do. For many, this simple belief would seem
to be enough. In Acts 9, we learn that during those three days he was waiting for Ananias, that he
fasted and prayed. For many of our denominational friends, this would be more than enough for
Paul to be forgiven and saved. He had a personal encounter with Jesus, he believed, he fasted,
and he prayed. What more could he need to do? Yet the Bible, says otherwise.
When Ananias finally came to Paul, he did not say he was already saved. No, instead, he
gives Paul the instructions that he has been waiting for. Ananias told him: “Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Ananias
knew that Paul had not been saved. Even though he had believed, fasted, and prayed, he had not
been forgiven of his sins. The phrase, “Calling on the name of the Lord,” describes what Paul
was doing when he was baptized for the remission of his sins. “Not everyone who says to Me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who
is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). We must do it God’s way.
