Calling On The Name Of The Lord
by Douglas Hoff
People interested in obeying God
are familiar with the phrase “calling on the name of the Lord.” That exact wording is found only in Acts 22:16. However, variations such as “call(s, -ing, -ed) on the name of the LORD” are plentiful and attest to the importance of this
expression. The first instance is found
in Genesis
The second occurrence of the phrase
is in Genesis 12:8. Here we read of Abram “And he removed from
thence unto a mountain on the east of
Other passages show it refers to making a request of God. When Naaman the leper was instructed to wash in the Jordan seven times he remarked, “Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper” (2 Kings 5:11). Psalm 99 clearly shows prayer is meant by this expression: “Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them” (Psalms 99:5).
Calling on the name of the LORD includes praise, thanksgiving and service. The following three passages demonstrate this: “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people” (Psalms 105:1). “And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted” (Isaiah 12:4). “O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people” (Psalms 116:16-18).
In the Old Testament calling on the
name of the Lord is likewise associated with salvation. “Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD”
(Psalms 116:4, 13). “And it shall
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount
In the New Testament calling on the
name of the Lord is also linked to salvation.
On the day the church was established Peter was preaching the gospel of
Christ. In his discourse he cited Joel
Paul wrote that calling on the name
of the Lord yields salvation (Romans
Calling on the name of the Lord is
clearly more than just praying for forgiveness. The Lord Jesus indicated some who acknowledge
him as Lord will find their profession is in vain. Jesus taught, “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. Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity” (Matthew
Though some give lip service to God, thankfully there are many followers of Christ who call him Lord and do what he says. These are the ones who really call on the name of the Lord. They prove it as they worship in spirit and in truth, by their fervent and sincere prayers and through their praise, thanksgiving and service they render as they work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).