The wonderful story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Jesus as the Messiah is briefly recorded three times in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9, 22, and 26). The former persecutor of the followers of Jesus is largely known in the history of Christianity as the Apostle Paul. Recalling his conversion he praises Christ Jesus our Lord for his great example of mercy toward the foremost of sinners, himself (1 Timothy 1:12-17). In the account of the conversion story in Acts 22, Paul told how Ananias was sent to him by the Lord to restore his sight and to confirm God’s appointment of him as a witness for Jesus, the Righteous One. Then Ananias, a devout Jew and disciple of Jesus, urged Paul: “’And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:16, ESV). Following Ananias’s instructions, Saul chooses to accept the call and appointment of the Lord; but this act of calling on his name signifies that he understands that the salvation and calling are of the Lord, by his grace and mercy, and not at all deserved by Saul himself.
What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? As devout Jews, both Ananias and Saul would have immediately comprehended the meaning, for their heritage and scriptures (the Old Testament) was rich with references of calling upon the name of the Lord or some similar phrase. In the days of Seth humans first began to call upon the Lord, and Abraham and Isaac built altars to God and invoked his name (Genesis 4:26, 12:8 and 26:25). Why did they invoke his name? At altars worshipers of God offered their selves to God, to worship him, honor him, thank him, praise him, confess sins to him and petition him to continue to bless and be with them and their heritage. With or without the altar any of these devotions appropriately express the heart of the people who believe in God, name God as their God, and live by faith in him trusting his reward (See Deuteronomy 4:7, Psalms 17, 99, 145 and Hebrews 11). This devotion of faith in God by calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ was and is expressed by Christians (John 14-17, Acts 7:59, 9:14 and 21, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Timothy 2:22 and 1 Peter 1:17).
When you read the story of Paul’s conversion, there is no doubt when he was baptized he sincerely called upon the name of the Lord. He knew however what it meant, and so should anyone who comes to the Lord. In the way of salvation or need for deliverance calling upon the name has a specific meaning that is explained by the Old Testament and the New Testament (See Joel 2, Zechariah 12:10-13:9 and Acts 2; see also Psalms 50, 55, 91, 107, 116).
While calling on the name is expressed when a believer is baptized in the name of Jesus; the actual calling on the name is a heartfelt prayer and confession of the mouth according to a believer’s understanding of the truth about his need and about Jesus who was sent to bless us (On “baptism” see Acts 19:1-7, 22:16, and 1 Peter 3:21-22; on “calling upon the name” see Luke 18:9-14, Acts 3 and 4, and Romans 10:5-13). The sinners who recognize their need for salvation through the cross and resurrection of Jesus will acknowledge their sin and need for justification in prayer with a humble and repentant heart. This means he or she understands that their salvation and calling are of the Lord, by his grace and mercy, and not at all deserved by them. By their humble, repentant trusting heart, they confess the name of Jesus understanding that their salvation is in no other name. And just like Paul, they are baptized in the name of Jesus, answering the call of their Lord Jesus by their commitment to be made his learning and obedient disciples (Matthew 28:16-20).
2 Comments
December 11, 2007 at Tuesday, December 11, 2007
I have enjoyed reading your thoughts.
Shalom,
Bobby Valentine
December 12, 2007 at Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Thank you for your encouragement, Bobby.