CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
Text: Acts 2:21
Introduction:
I. This verse is the last portion of Peter’s quote of
Joel’s prophesy.
II. In verse 20, Peter talks about the great and glories
day of the Lord.
III. When this day comes, those who “call on the name of
the Lord” shall be saved.
IV. I would like for us to take a good look at what is
involved in this verse.
Body:
I. Prerequisites for “calling on the Name of the Lord.”
A. A man must realize that he is a sinner. Romans 3:23
B. A man must want to be saved.
C. To call on His name, we must first hear His word
and learn of Him.
1. Romans 10:14-15, 17
2. This is why the great commission was given
(Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15)
D. This implies a willingness to hear the message. We
must not turn a deaf ear to God. (Compare Proverb
28:9)
E. To call on Him we must believe on Him. Romans
10:14
1. Belief must come before calling, for men cannot
call on Him in whom they have not believed.
2. Faith alone is insufficient, since we believe,
then call.
II. Whosoever.
A. This is not unconditional salvation. Matthew 7:13
B. The invitation is to individuals, not nations.
C. The invitation is not only to the Jews, but also to
the Gentiles. Romans 10:12-13
D. The invitation is to the rich and to the poor, to
the learned and to the unlearned. It is to all
mankind regardless of race or class.
E. “Everyone who’ and all similar expressions of
universality are like blank spaces in mighty bank
drafts which are signed by the Lord and into which
he invites us to write our own name by faith. If
we do, the draft will without fail by honored by
him.” Lenski
III. What does it mean to “call”?
A. It means more than to use words whereby one says:
“Lord, Lord.”
1. Matthew 7:21-23
2. Luke 6:46
B. “To call upon, to invoke’ (Thayer) ‘To call upon
the Lord’s name’ (the verb is the middle) means to
call him to our aid, i.e., in our spiritual need.
(Lenski) We must call Him to our aid in the way
which He has ordained. In so doing, we are
depending on God. We must go to Him through the
prescribed channels.” Bales
C. This does not mean prayer for the alien sinner.
1. The people in Acts 2 didn’t understand it to
mean that, nor did Peter explain it to mean that
they must pray through. Acts 2:37-38
2. Acts 22:16
IV. The Name of the Lord.
A. “The name of” draws attention to the “character”
and “work” of the person whose name follows.
B. “The Lord” – “This term is almost universally used
in the New Testament to designate Christ “as the
Second Person of the Godhead, and it is the term
which is employed in the Greek version of the Old
Testament to translate ‘Jehovah’. This is a strong
verbal proof of Christ’s Godhead.” (Bales)
V. Shall be Saved.
A. From the guilt of his past sins.
B. After becoming a Christian.
Conclusion:
I. Call on Him or be lost. Acts 4:12
II. Have you called on the Name of the Lord?
III. Why not call on the Lord’s name today?
This outline is based a chapter from James D. Bales book "The
Hub of the Bible".
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