Call

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."” (Romans 10:12-13 NASB). Looking back to verse 9 and10, Paul tells us we are to believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, resulting in our righteousness, and that we are to confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord, resulting in our salvation. Paul then makes it clear that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Jesus.

Paul emphasizes the importance of calling upon the Lord by going back to the prophet Joel, where he tells us that before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord, it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2:31, 32). Before the awful day of judgment comes, you will have opportunity to be saved from it by calling on the Lord for your salvation. To call on the name of the Lord is not a new concept. What is new in the New testament is that the Lord is now identified as the person of Jesus Christ. It is critically important that this be understood because there is no other name given among men other than the name of Jesus by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Our salvation is found in and obtained from the person whose name is Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth and took on a body of flesh through a virgin birth.

These verses are also used by Armenians to support their position of salvation being free will. It is a view of salvation as seen from earth.

Prayer

Father, there should be no question that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will receive salvation, but there is an underlining tension over who will or can call on the Lord. This leads to the question of those who never hear of the name of Jesus so they can call on his name. There are so many other questions that one might have, but one thing is certain; “whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” That is your promise to us, sealed in the blood of Jesus on the cross and then his victory over death through the resurrection. Father, thank you for the gift of salvation.