How does one call upon the name of the Lord? The Bible teaches how we are to call on the name of the Lord. When the apostle Peter preached with the other eleven apostles on the Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, he quoted the Prophet Joel when he said, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Many do not know how God wants them to call on Him. Paul wrote, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Romans 10:12). Paul wrote the same as Peter did on the Day of Pentecost in Romans 10:13. After this he wrote, “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?” (Romans 10:14).
When we preach the Gospel of Jesus, people know how to call on Him (Romans 1:16). Jesus said, “… preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved …” (Mark 16:15-16). The Gospel is “the Word of faith we preach.” “…The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth” (Romans 10:8). Is this praying? No. Paul went on and said,
…and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:8-11)
Philip the Evangelist said,
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus… they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 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. 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. (Acts 8:35-38)
Hearing the Word of God produced faith in the eunuch (Romans 10:17). When he believed in Jesus, he was not ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10-11). He confessed Him to Philip. Luke wrote of Paul’s conversion; Ananias told him, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). This is the way one calls on God. Not our way, but His way.
