Calling on the name of Jehovah

What does it mean to call on the name of Jehovah? For today's modern evangelical it simply means to believe and confess with your mouth that Jehoshua is Lord.  Usually, the evangelicals mean that Jehoshua is God when they say this.

 The modern churches of Christendom believe that if you believe in your heart that Jehoshua is Lord and confess it with your mouth then you are saved right then and there and have eternal security (OSAS). With this evangelical understanding "calling on the name of the Lord" amounts to just having a mental ascent of belief in who Jehoshua is. The problem with this understanding of "calling on the name of the Lord" is that the demons believe and tremble. The demons know that God is one and also know that Jehoshua is the Son of God. The concept of calling on God must have a more layered meaning otherwise we are not better than the demons.

Acts 2:21

"And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved"

The Lord mentioned above is the Father Jehovah not Jehoshua (Joel 2:32). This is the first thing evangelicals get wrong as Acts 2:21 is quoting Joel chapter 2 which is clearly referring to Jehovah God.

Just as with all scripture context is key. This passage regarding calling on the name of Jehovah is within the conext of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:29-31

29 Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set [one] upon his throne; 31 he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Just a few verses after Peter's quotation of Joel 2:32 he starts preaching about Jehoshua fulfilling the Davidic covenant. Here in verses 29-31 Peter is preaching that the promise Jehovah God made to David was fulfilled at the resurrection of Jehoshua.

Acts 2:32-33

32 This Jehoshua did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.

Peter says that Jehoshua was resurrected by Jehovah God and set at His right hand. This is a reference to Psalm 110:1 which is a prophecy about the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. This proves, along with verses 29-31, that it was at Jehoshua's resurrection and ascension that he received the throne of David.

Acts 2:34-35

34 For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.

Now Peter directly quotes Psalm 110:1, he attributes this passage as being fulfilled at Jehoshua's resurrection. This is David prophesying of the covenant, Jehovah made with him, being fulfilled by one of his royal descendants.

Acts 2:36

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both King and Messiah, this Jehoshua whom ye crucified'

The whole purpose of Peter's sermon is to show that Jehoshua fulfilled the Davidic covenant and sat on his throne at his ascension into heaven. Peter says that Jehovah God made Jehoshua, both King and Messiah, proving that indeed his resurrection was the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.

Acts 2:37-38

37 Now when they heard [this,] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 37 is an example of people calling on the name of Jehovah. They had heard the gospel of the Kingdom being proclaimed to them and then asked what they were to do. Peter told them to repent (turn from, change of mind) and be baptized Into the name (authority) of Jehoshua Messiah. By doing this they would receive the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Calling on the name of Jehovah for salvation requires an act of obedience subsequent to calling on the name. In this case it was repentance followed by baptism into the authority of Jehoshua's Kingship. Many Christians may not have too much of a problem with this as their churches perform baptisms, however the doctrine of baptism requires that one lives a Messiah-like life. Baptism signifies dying to the world and being resurrected spiritually into the resurrected power of Messiah's life. 

Romans 1013-15

13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

The word of God is true, those who call on His name shall be saved. However, calling on His name is not mere profession of faith or mental ascent but includes obedience upon in addition to those two things. One cannot call upon the name of Jehovah unless one hears Him being preached. One cannot hear Him being preached unless there is a preacher sent. In verse 15, Paul quotes from Isaiah 52 which is a passage about preaching the Kingdom of Jehovah God to Zion. In the context of calling on the name of Jehovah, is to believe the preaching about His (JEHOVAH'S) Kingdom. Again, Paul is not quoting scripture in a vaccum as there is depth to what he is saying in Romans 13.

To call upon the name of Jehovah includes having faith in His Kingdom. This includes faith in the Davidic covenant (Acts 2) and then following up that faith with baptism to receive the gift of the holy spirit. The evidence of having the holy Spirit is to have Jehovah's law written on your heart (Hebrews 8). The whole book of Isaiah is about the Kingdom of Jehovah God, so Paul's quotation of Isaiah 52 show that calling on the name of Jehovah includes to believe in the laws and the concept of God's Kingdom. It also means to have faith and obey the King of the Kingdom and that's where Jehoshua and the Davidic covenant comes in.

To call on the name of JEHOVAH is only the beginning of our walk. Also, we can only call on Bis name when we have heard about Him. Hearing about Jehovah comes from those who are sent to preach His word. This can also come from someone who picks up the word and starts reading for themselves. The preaching of Jehovah's word is the good news of His Kingdom. JEHOVAH'S Kingdom has a people, a territory, a law and a King. To call on JEHOVAH'S name includes all of these concepts. The brethren at Pentecost could only call on Jehovah's name once they heard the message of the Kingdom. It wasn't a message focused solely on personal salvation. It was a message rooted in the Davidic Kingship of the Messiah.

Just agreeing with the message verbally and mentally wasn't enough but obedience was required and that obedience was signified by baptism. At baptism one recieves the gift of the holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's job is to take out our heart of stone that rejects God's commandments and gives us a heart of flesh so we can love and keep them (Ezekiel 36).

Judges 16:28-31

28 And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life. 31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

This is an example of someone calling on the name of Jehovah and then following it up with action. Here in Judges 16, Samson calls on Jehovah to strengthen him one last time so he can destroy the Philistines. Jehovah answered Samson,'s prayer and gave him a burst of strength to bring down the pillars holding up the house of Dagon. The result was that Samson slayed more in his death then he did when he lived as Samson also perished in his destruction of the Philistines.

Genesis 4:26

"And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah"

This is the first time we read in scripture the concept of calling on the name of Jehovah. Here, to call on the name of the Lord means that people began to gather for corporate worship and seeking the help of the Creator

Genesis 12:8

"And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah"

When Abram entered Canaan, he camped between Ai and Bethel. There, “he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Jehovah". In other words, Abram publicly thanked God, praised His name, and sought His protection and guidance. In this passage calling on the name of Jehovah involves praise and worship of Jehovah God.

Genesis 26:24-25

24 And Jehovah appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham`s sake. 25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of Jehovah, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac`s servants digged a well.

Years later, Abraham’s son Isaac built an altar to Jehovah in Beersheba and also “called on the name of Jehovah”

To call on the name of Jehovah is to invoke His proper name “in audible and social prayer and praise” (Albert Barnes). To call on the name of Jehovah is to approach Him in thanksgiving, worship, and petition, and in so doing proclaim the name of God. To call on the name of Jehovah is to pray “in a more public and solemn manner” (Matthew Poole). Those who are children of God will naturally call on the name of Jehovah.

Joel 2:32

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call"

This passage, quoted in Acts 2, is a reference to the last days and Israel being delivered from their enemies. Calling on the name of Jehovah God also means to call on Him to save you from your enemies. It can also be a corporate thing for national salvation. Calling on the name of Jehovah involves much more than verbal profession and mental ascent otherwise we are no better than Satan and the demons. Calling on the name of Jehovah God involves action such as repentance, obedience, worship, thanksgiving and praise and a call for help in dire situations.