Calling on the Name of the Lord

Romans 10:1-13

Introduction:

A. This is an expression commonly misunderstood.

B. Notice it is used to help us understand what it includes. Acts 2:21

1. The promise is available. Romans 10:13

2. It is conditional.

3. Calling on the name of the Lord is required.

I. WHAT IT IS NOT.

A. Simply and only believing in Jesus for salvation.

1. Calling on the name of the Lord is something that comes after and in addition to belief or faith. Romans 10:14

2. This shows that faith only does not save. James 2:24

B. Prayer without obedience. 1 Peter 3:12

1. Prayer without obedience is worthless. John 9:31; Proverbs 28:9

2. An alien sinner is never commanded to pray for salvation.

3. Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in the Bible?

4. One condition of acceptable prayer is obedience. 1 John 3:22

C. Calling the Lords name. Luke 6:46; Matthew 25:11,12; Matthew 7:21

II. CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

A. Acts 2.

1. The context.

a. Descent of the Holy Spirit, vss. 1-4

b. Amazement and doubt, vss. 5-13

c. Explanation. vss. 14-21

(1) Fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

(2) “This is that.” v.16

(3) Right place. Joel 2:32

2. The statement. v. 21

3. The sermon. vss. 22-36

a. Jesus was approved of God.

b. Jesus was crucified according to God’s foreknowledge.

c. You crucified Jesus.

d. God raised Him from the dead.

4. Conclusion. v. 36

5. Response. v. 37

6. Reply.

a. Call on the name of the Lord. v. 21

b. Do the will of the Father. Matthew 7:21

c. Repent, be baptized. Acts 2:38-41

B. Acts 22.

1. Saul’s position. Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1,2

2. Saul’s instruction.

a. Saul’s question answered. Acts 9:6

b. Since the principle was to be universal, it could have been. Joel 2:32

c. It wasn’t to pray, because he was doing that before Ananias came. Acts 9:11

d. The command. Acts 22:16

C. Romans 10. Romans 10:1-17

1. Equated with obeying the gospel. Romans 10:16

2. The gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

3. Must be obeyed. Romans 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

4. How can one obey the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus? Romans 6:17,18,1-4

Conclusion:

A. Calling on the name of the Lord is obeying the gospel.

1. Romans 10:13,16; Romans 6:3,4

2. Acts 2:21,37,38

3. Acts 22:16

B. Have you called on the name of the Lord?