I. The Word: Romans 10:12-13

12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

13for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

II. Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to “call” upon God?

2. Why does he say “call on the name”? What does that mean? Why not just say, “Call God and ask for help?” Why His name?

I love these verses! It is so refreshing to a great sinner like me! Did you see what he said, “ALL who call upon the Lord will be saved!” He said there is no distinction, that is fantastic news…revolutionary news! That means that the salvation that Jesus offers is not for any one race, gender, socio-economic class, political party, etc, but that also means it is offered for any degree of sinner! So whether you sin but a little or, like me, you have sinned quite a lot, you are not out of reach. I do not have to repent more than Ghandi does just because I am not as morally upright as he is! We are equals in front of the cross!

This is amazing! Can you hear the morally upright outraged, and the immorally rich throwing a party and telling everyone they know this Good News? Sounds like what was happening in Jesus’ day doesn’t it? The religious, morally rich, people pissed off that Jesus would offer friendship, forgiveness, and a future to publicly known sinners and law breakers, and the morally poor are smitten with Jesus and rejoicing! Man, how far away from the Gospels have we fallen today! Beware, and take up the watch, because the Gospel is coming and it will murder your pride and self-righteousness! Beware that you, Christians, do not lay a burden or restriction on other people that Jesus never did! Think carefully and tread strategically on how you treat yourself and others because, “ALL who call upon the name of the Lord WILL be saved!”

I am also perplexed and intrigued by the phrase, “Call upon the name.” What does that mean? What does it mean to “call” and why, “In the name of the Lord?”

Below is some other references that share that phrase. Take a minute and read them.

Genesis 4:26
To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 12:8
Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 26:25
So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

1 Kings 18:24
“Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “That is a good idea.”

Psalm 116:17
To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And call upon the name of the LORD.

Joel 2:32
“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

Zephaniah 3:9
“For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

1 Corinthians 1:2

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

From what I can gather it means much more than just using words to call. I think it means that God’s people are those who rely on Him (call on Him) for their security, joy, comfort, approval, and purpose in life. You might say that you agree with that and you do it, but you will never know for sure what you are relying on until it is threaten. Suffering and loss reveal foundations. Trails, tribulations, danger reveal foundations. Listen to Jesus, “Those who hear these words of mine and do them are like the wise man who built his house on the rock. The rains came, the wind blew, and the floods came and it still stands.” Notice He does not say His people never experience the rain, winds, or flood, but that WHEN they come, their still house stands.

You may know all the answers to the Christianity test, but what about the life test? What does your life, especially during the tough times, reveal about who you call upon?

For those in Christ we don’t just memorize Romans 8 we live by it. It is our calling…

“For who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, distress, famine, persecution, nakedness, peril or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For your name’s sake we are being put to death. We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all of these things we overwhelmingly conquered through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height or depth, or any created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus!”

That is what it means to call upon the name of the Lord. Amen!

P.S. For the Romans 9 lovers like me, relax with this verse. It does not contradict God’s freedom in election. Notice that the verse says that “whoever will call on the name of the Lord,” it says nothing about that will being free and independent of God to be able to call. Yes, you have a will and have to make decisions about God, but are you ultimately free? This verse does not say you are. Relax. Enjoy. Glorify!