1. Calling On The Name of the Lord The profound, prophetic promise of Joel was pronounced by Peter, “ And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”, Acts 2:21;Joel 2:32. Paul repeats it in Rom. 10:13. Any object of the prophets and subject of the apostles dealing with salvation is worthy of conscientious consideration and evaluation. For that reason, we shall study this timely text.

2. The Time What period of time is it when men shall call on the name of the lord and be saved? – It was not during Joel’s day for he said, “And it shall come to pass”, Joel 2:28. – It was not during the personal ministry of Jesus on earth. Jesus, after His resurrection but before His ascension, said that repentance and remission of sins in His name was yet to be preached, but He implied that it was to commence soon, Lk. 24:47-49. – The time is now: “Today is the day of salvation”, 2 Cor. 6:2. It has been since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2: Peter said, “ This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel”, vs. 16-21. Jesus told the apostles they would preach salvation in His name when they received “power from on high”, Lk. 24:46-49; Acts 11:15. Since then, not before, and until the last trump shall signal the end of this present world, the time for calling on His name extends.

3. The People Who are the people included in this sublime and glorious invitation? Some of God’s covenants with men have been exclusive. – Not everyone, for example, was included in the covenant of circumcision or the sabbath, Ex. 31:17; Deut. 5:3 – The Jews were the ones to hear the message of the “limited commission”, as it has een called, not the Gentiles or Samaritans, Mt. 10:5. – However, all men may call on the name of the Lord and be saved, “For whosoever shall call…”. That was Paul’s emphasis in Romans when he cited our text, “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”, Rom. 10:12. “Every creature”, “all nations”, “whosoever will” – these and other similar utterances reveal that all men everywhere are amenable to the gospel appeal. The scriptural summons is as broad as God’s grace, as deep as His love and as high as His mercy.

4. The Action What action is intended by the words “call on the name of the Lord”? – It does not mean that nothing is to be done. To call on the name of the Lord implies something. Salvation is conditioned upon one’s calling; hence, there is something one must do to be saved. – It does not mean to say “Lord, Lord,” to cry to Him without obeying His word. Lk. 4:46. It is true that calling on the name of the Lord will save, but obedience is required, Mt. 7:21. Thus, whatever calling on His name is, it is not done by saying, “Lord, Lord”. According to Jesus, the one who obeys His is the one who calls on His name.

5. The Action What action is intended by the words “call on the name of the Lord”? – It does not mean that nothing is to be done. To call on the name of the Lord implies something. Salvation is conditioned upon one’s calling; hence, there is something one must do to be saved. – It does not mean to say “Lord, Lord,” to cry to Him without obeying His word. Lk. 4:46. It is true that calling on the name of the Lord will save, but obedience is required, Mt. 7:21. Thus, whatever calling on His name is, it is not done by saying, “Lord, Lord”. According to Jesus, the one who obeys His is the one who calls on His name. – Since Peter announced that “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” it is proper that we allow him to explain what he meant. When his audience believed, they cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” They knew that there was something to do. Peter told them, vs. 38. This harmonizes with what the believing, penitent Saul was told, Acts 22:16

6. The Result What is the result, the consequence, of calling on His name? – The aim is not carnal or worldly. It will not procure or assure physical health or social and economic stability. – The effect will not in sure against future sin and ruin, 1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:4,7; Heb. 10:26-29; 2 Pet. 2:20-22. – The purpose of the calling is that one “shall be saved”. What a glorious thought. What a wonderful knowledge! Every sin, every stain and blot on the soul is washed away by the blood of Christ in the power of His holy name. “Shall be saved” is equivalent to “the remission of sins”, or “that your sins may be blotted out”, Acts 2:21, 38; 3:19. Note: Mk. 16:16; Lk. 24:47. Acts 10:43.