Saved by "Calling on the Name of The Lord"

What is “calling on the name of the Lord”? Is it saying the “sinner’s prayer”? In the story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, we see a sinner praying before receiving salvation. Stricken blind on the road to Damascus, Saul was commanded by Jesus to “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6). Ananias, the Lord’s messenger, found Saul fasting and praying because all was not well with him. Ananias commanded Saul to “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Saul’s fasting, praying, and his belief in Jesus did not amount to “calling on the name of the Lord.” He was commanded to be baptized in order to call on the Lord’s name.

The Bible clearly states: "And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). Contrariwise, whoever does NOT do this will NOT be saved. Since salvation rests upon calling on the name of the Lord it is vitally important that we know how to do it.

Note further teaching by Paul: "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?" ( Rom. 10:13-14). It must, therefore, be concluded that being saved by calling on the name of the Lord involves hearing the word of the Lord, believing it, and obeying it. Paul concluded by saying, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (v. 17).

Many think calling on the name of the Lord means saying, "Lord, save me," or "I accept you as my personal Savior." But consider Jesus' statement: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 7:21). Jesus declared very plainly that it will take more than one's simply saying, "Lord, Lord" to save him from his sins. Jesus equated salvation with those who DO the will of God.

But you may be thinking, Are not those who say ”Lord, Lord" doing the Father's will? Not necessarily! For if they were, then the declaration Jesus made in Matthew 7:21 is void of intelligent meaning. This is the very thing our Lord was talking about. He knew there would be many who would say "Lord" with their lips, and yet refuse to do his will (Mark 7:6-7). Jesus asked, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46); so "calling on..." does not mean begging, "Lord, save me." We can find no examples in the Bible of one’s being saved through prayer, nor was anyone instructed to pray for salvation. Calling on the name of the Lord requires obedience to his commands.

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