“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2.21, ESV).¹

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¹Before Jesus left this earth, He told the apostles that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations…” (Luke 24.47, NKJV).

Therefore, on the day of Pentecost Peter told everyone that they needed to prepare for the coming judgment by “calling on the name of the Lord”. There is a misunderstanding in the religious world about this statement. What exactly did he mean?

After preaching the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Peter told the convicted murderers (Acts 2.36-37), “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2.38, ESV). Obviously, Peter did not preach anything different in verse 38 than he did in verse 21. Both require the same authority, the name of Jesus Christ, and both end with the same result, salvation.

When the Jews asked what they must do (Acts 2.37), Peter explained by inspiration exactly what he meant. Therefore, it must be understood that to “call on the name of the Lord” to be saved is explained by “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins....”

No wonder Saul was later told, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22.16, ESV).

Have you called on the name of the Lord to be saved? It is not a verbal calling (as in a “sinner’s prayer” – which has no Scriptural support), but a calling on the Lord in baptism for the forgiveness of sins (cf. 1 Peter 3.21; Heb. 10.22). If you’re interested in learning more about what is required to be saved, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

"Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you." (Deuteronomy 4.23, ESV)¹

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¹As time goes by we often tend to forget the past. This includes important details, events, conversations, people, instructions, etc. No wonder our Creator deemed it necessary to remind us of His instructions. In our text, God's people were to remember the covenant they made with their Lord. One of the ways God helped His people was by instituting memorials (Exo. 12, etc.); just as we have the Lord's Supper today, as a memorial of our Lord's death (1 Cor. 11.23-26). 

Interestingly, one of the purposes of the Holy Scriptures is to remind us of everything God has revealed (See Deut. 6.12; Rom. 15.15; 1 Cor. 4.17; 15.1; 2 Tim. 2.14; Titus 3.1; 2 Peter 1.12-13; Jude 5, etc.). This is not only understood in the fact that the inspired writers constantly made mention of stirring their readers' minds up by way of reminder, but that the Scriptures are to be read, studied, meditated upon, and read again; especially by us today.

If we do not continue steadfastly in God's word we can be sure we will forget His will for our lives. Moses recorded for the Israelites' memory, “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today..." (Deut. 8.11).

God has done His part by preserving His word for us today. Will we do our part by remembering it (James 1.21-25)? If you want to learn more about God's word e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.