Join the International Gospel Hour as we delve deep into the concept of calling on the name of the Lord. Host Jeff Archie unravels the layers of Romans 10:13, beautifully linking it with Acts, Joel’s prophecy, and the teachings of Jesus. Learn about the transformative power of faith, repentance, and baptism in the process of salvation, and discover why simply uttering ‘Lord, Lord’ might not suffice according to the scriptures.
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For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Amen. But friends, think about it. There is a difference between calling the name of the Lord and calling upon the name of the Lord. And we’re going to look at that today here from the International Gospel Hour. Please stay with us.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour starting now.
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Well, greetings, everyone. Great having you with us, and we appreciate our J-Web and his kind words, and you’ll hear from Jay throughout our broadcast. We love to offer a variety of free materials, and Jay provides us that information every So we are thankful for our J-Web. Got to tell you a quick story. Those of you that listen to us often, I was in a radio station one day and I introduced myself and the guy turned around and said, where is J-Web? So yes, even J is well known and we’re grateful for his good work. Friends, may I share with you the International Gospel Hour is under the oversight of the elders of the West Fayetteville, Tennessee Church of Christ. The address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. Our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. And our website is internationalgospelhour.com. So you can mail us a letter. You can send us an email. We love to hear from our listeners. Matter of fact, if you would not mind, take that 855-444-6988 number and Give us a quick call and let us know where you’re listening to our broadcast from. Are you listening on local radio, podcast option, whatever the case might be. We appreciate you, our listener. In Romans 10, 13-17, the Bible says, For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. For whoever or whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Friends, that’s a wonderful passage from Romans 10, 13. It has a tremendous amount of strength, but yet, let’s ask, is it misunderstood many times? Let us consider this inspired phrase today, but first, we return once again to our J-Web.
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A great online publication is the Gospel Gleaner. For over 30 years, the Gospel Gleaner has presented excellent, sound biblical articles for reading and study. It is published quarterly, four times a year. Subscriptions are free. Just go to gospelgleaner.com and sign up for their email version. Be sure to post in the comments blank you heard about it from the International Gospel Hour.
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Friends, let’s consider the phrase, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, with some scripture. Now, we began with Romans 10 and verse 13, but I’d like to take us to Acts 2, 14 through 21, when Peter stands up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, to the crowd that was there at Pentecost, Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your young men shall see visions. Your old men shall dream dreams. And on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days. And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Now, I want you to notice in verse 16, Peter is saying, This, what you’re seeing, is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. And he brings it forth. So verses 16 through 21 refers to Joel’s prophecy from Joel 2, 28 through 32. And verse 21 of Acts 2, It shall come to pass, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Peter continues preaching that great lesson, and after the preaching of Christ and the conviction of their hearts, when they were convicted in their hearts, pricked in their hearts, Acts 2.37, the men and brethren asked what to do. Now, friends, may I ask a question? Did not Peter tell them earlier what they should do to call on the name of the Lord and they would be saved? But, friends, I want you to note the reply of Peter and the response of the people. In Acts 2, verse 38, Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. They were added to the church. Acts 2, verse 47. Now, friends, I want you to notice they responded, not simply made a reply. So how did they call on the name of the Lord? By obeying the Lord through faith, repentance, and baptism. Now that throws a lot of individuals, I know. But again, friends, they did call on the name of the Lord because these individuals were saved by what Peter told them to do. They were added to the church. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved, Acts 2.47. Now, you may be wondering, now, Brother Archie, are you saying calling on the name of the Lord is when somebody believes, repents, and is baptized? Friends, allow the Bible to answer that. To answer your question, the Bible confirmed that here. But let’s look at another text in the book of Acts. In Acts 22, 16, here is the Apostle Paul telling of his conversion account from Acts chapter 9. Here Ananias looks at Paul at the time Saul and said, Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Now again, Paul is telling his account found in Acts chapter 9. And friends, if we can see, simply calling Lord is not enough. Calling on is different from calling the name. Calling on is different than calling out. I mean, friends, if calling the name of the Lord was enough, then why ask Peter what to do in Acts 2.37? And didn’t Paul, as Saul, did he not call the Lord’s name in Acts 22.10 and Acts 9.6 when he said, Lord? Indeed he did, but yet he was told what he needed to do. Now, when you look further at Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, 10-14, look at Ananias’ side of the story. The Lord told him that Paul was praying. Now, no question that would be enough according to some. If Paul was praying, there’s his salvation, but that’s not the case. If Paul’s praying was enough to save him, then why was Ananias sent by the Lord to tell Paul what he needed to do? Acts 9, 6. And the Lord sent him, folks. And then look who Paul was binding all that call on the name of the Lord. Back earlier in chapter 9, they’re known as the disciples, Acts 9 and verse 1. Back in Acts 8, 1 and 2, he made havoc of the church, the saved, Acts 2, 47, those who call on the name of the Lord. Now let’s consider Matthew 7, 21, when Jesus said, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. And did not Jesus also teach in Luke 6, 46, Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Friends, Paul did call on the name of the Lord by obeying what was commanded. And note, if you will, the structure of that text of Acts 22, 16. Calling on the name of the Lord is a response of arising and doing and continuing a faithful walk, not simply a reply, Lord, Lord, which Jesus says is not enough. Friends, have we given you some things to think about? Brother Archie, are you saying that calling on the name of the Lord is when one repents and through faith is baptized?
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Yes.
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Friends, I’m not saying that, but the Bible will affirm that, and I will affirm what the Bible says. If we’ve given you some things to think about, friends, let us help you with a further study. Our Bible course by mail is absolutely free. We’ve sent it over and around anywhere you can imagine, and we’d love to send it to you. We’d love for you to give it a try. For the details of how to receive it, here is our J-Web.
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Our well-received Bible study course by mail is available to everyone absolutely free. Would you like to try it? All you do is call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. That’s all you have to do. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. At your own pace, you can study the Bible in your own home. Again, it’s free. Give it a try. And it’s from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 03 :
Calling on the name of the Lord, friends, is a response of arising and doing the commands of God and continuing in those commands, not simply a reply. Let’s think on these things and study together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.