CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
IF YOU WERE PRESENT LAST WEEK YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT WE EXAMINED ACTS 2:19-21. WE SURVEYED WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE BEST THREE EXPLANATIONS FOR THESE VERSES. IT WAS PROPOSED THAT BOTH PETER AND JOEL DESCRIBED THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN 70 A.D.
A. It was argued that this entire prophecy can be and is related to this historical event.
B. Tonight we want to look at another part of this prophecy.
C. Joel spoke of people “calling upon the Lord.”
D. Joel predicated that those who “called on the name of the Lord” would be “saved.”
E. We know how many have used this part of the prophecy.
F. People have told those interested in Christianity, “Call on the Lord and you will be saved.”
G. People think this calling something like, “Lord I am sinner; please save me.”
H. Is this what Peter meant?
I. What does it mean to “call on the Lord?”
2. The goal of tonight’s lesson is to help us understand the calling on the Lord in Acts 2:21.
3. Before studying the actual text I want to introduce a thought from Mt. 7.
A. The context for this thought begins with verse 13.
B. In Mt. 7:13 Jesus spoke about two destinies.
C. There is the “narrow gate” and the “wide gate.”
D. There is a way to life and a way to death.
E. In verse 15 Jesus warned about false religious guides.
F. In verse 21 He said this – READ.
4. Some have the idea that “confessing Christ” means calling upon the name of Jesus.
5. People say something like “I love you Jesus or Jesus save me” and that’s it.
6. The Lord affirmed that this is not true.
7. According to Mt. 7 there will be people on the Day of Judgment.
8. The number of people in this category is described as “many.”
9. These people will have called upon the Lord.
10. They will have said the name Jesus on many occasions and in many different ways.
11. In addition to calling upon Him they will have, at least in their mind, performed miracles.
12. These miracles were performed by calling upon Jesus – verse 22 – READ.
13. What will Jesus say to these people? Verse 23 – READ.
A. People can call upon the Lord but Jesus can say “I never knew you.”
B. These people called but Jesus didn’t answer.
C. These people confessed Christ but the Lord never acknowledged them.
D. This proves that mere confession or calling is not enough.
E. This also shows that invoking the Lord’s name when trying to help people is not enough.
F. Calling upon the Lord’s name must be defined in another way.
14. WHEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WORDS MEAN A GOOD BEGINNING PLACE IS THE DICTIONARY. WE CAN LOOK UP THE MEANINGS FOR THE WORDS THAT ARE USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. There are sources that define biblical words.
B. These sources have some information about the word translated “call.”
C. If we were to look up this word we would find some interesting information.
D. The word translated “call” is used 30 times in the New Testament (EDNT, 2:29).
E. This word is found 20 times in the book of Acts (ibid).
F. The word rendered “calling” described invoking someone’s help.
G. Outside the New Testament it was associated with people who cast spells.
H. People would “call upon” the spirits to do certain things.
15. This information helps us understand the point in Acts 2.
16. Calling upon the Lord is calling on Jesus for help.
17. Calling upon the Lord is a request for aid.
18. Here is the key question:
19. Who was going to do the calling described in Acts 2:21?
A. Some immediately assume that the prophecy describes non-Christians.
B. People see the word “saved” and think about salvation from sin.
C. If you were here last week we studied Joel’s prophecy.
D. We examined three different explanations for these verses.
E. Some think that the prophecy was fulfilled on Pentecost.
F. Others say that it refers to the end of time.
G. A third view (which seems to be the most compelling) is the destruction of Jerusalem.
H. Tonight I want to provide you with a piece of information that I didn’t know.
I. Do you see the word “called” in verse 21?
J. This is from an aorist tense verb.
K. This means that the calling occurred in the past.
L. There is a well known Baptist scholar (Horatio Hackett).
M. Concerning this calling he rightly said, “shall have called upon.”
20. The people doing the calling were already Christians.
21. The people who were saved were the ones who would be doing the “calling upon the Lord.”
22. If the destruction of Jerusalem view is right—and I maintain that it is, the point is very clear.
23. The “salvation” would be salvation from the Roman army in 70 A.D.
24. I want to again read Lk. 21:18 – READ.
25. When the Romans came to town who would be calling upon the Lord?
26. The answer is so clear it is almost embarrassing.
27. During a time of attack people want help.
28. Jonah 1:6 shows that people were calling upon their god.
29. If Christians were under attack in 70 A.D. they would have been calling upon the Lord.
30. Members of Christ’s body would have asked Jesus for help.
A. Listen to Mt. 24:19-20 – READ.
B. This verse is a wonderful commentary on Acts 2:21.
C. The people in Jerusalem were attacked.
D. What would those in the city—especially the Christians—be doing?
E. They would be praying. They would be “calling upon the Lord.”
F. The information I read from Matthew has a parallel in Lk. 21.
G. This parallel is in verses 23-24 – Lk. 21:23-24 – READ.
H. In both accounts Jesus spoke of nursing mothers.
I. Imagine what nursing mothers would and could do as a pagan army marched on their city.
J. Women in this condition would be in a terrible bind.
K. Jesus spoke of “great distress” and “wrath” upon the city (Lk. 21:23).
L. In Lk. 21:24 there is a reference to people dying by the sword.
M. Today swords are hardly used in warfare.
N. In the first century this was a popular weapon.
O. This is further proof that we are not dealing with a future event.
P. What nation would ever again fight a major battle with swords?
Q. Jesus spoke of Jerusalem being “trodden down.”
31. The descriptions of Jerusalem’s destruction are horrible.
32. Yet, God said that His people could call upon the Lord Jesus Christ and find salvation.
33. Some have turned to Acts 2:21 to teach unsaved people about salvation.
34. This verse was written to Christians, not the unsaved.
35. For another good cross-reference you may want to jot down Acts 9:14.
A. This passage describes how Saul was blinded.
B. He was then led into a city.
C. The Lord told a man named Ananias to see Saul.
D. This brother was somewhat hesitant.
E. Part of his hesitation is described in Acts 9:14 – READ.
F. The word in Acts 9:14 and 2:21 is the same.
G. In Acts 9:14 it is clear that Christians are the ones who “called upon the Lord.”
36. The context bears out this same interpretation in Acts 2:21.
37. SOME
MAY FIND IT HELPFUL TO WRITE BY ACTS 2:19-21 A COUPLE OF NOTES.
THIS SECTION CAN BE MARKED “DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.”
THE WORD “SAVED” CAN BE MARKED AS “PHYSICAL LIFE, LK. 21:18.”
THE CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD CAN BE UNDERLINED AND THIS
NOTE MAY BE INSERTED:
“THESE WERE ALREADY CHRISTIANS.”
A. These notes can remind us of what Joel and Peter meant.
B. This is one thing that will help us, especially when others try to misuse ths passage.
C. There is a second point that is just as practical.
D. God’s people were going to face a terrible time.
E. Jesus said this tragedy rated among the worst ever seen by the world.
F. This period would pose some problems for some Christians.
G. This fact provides us with some lessons.
I). Joel’s prophecy shows that Christians are not exempt from the difficulties of life.
II). Christians sometimes face “fiery trials” (1 Pet. 4:12).
(a). The destruction of Jerusalem was certainly a very difficult time to live through.
H. In spite of the difficult times God was and still is with His people.
I. He is not only with us, He desires for Christians to “call upon Him.”
J. An Old Testament prophecy shows that God is pleased when we invoke the Lord’s help.
K. Jesus wants us to make requests for aid.
L. These requests are taken seriously.
M. “Whosoever” called upon the Lord would be “saved” (rescued from the Romans).
N. Today God still wants His people to call upon Him.
38. Do we as a Christian “call upon the Lord” on a regular basis?
39. Do we often come to the throne of God asking for help and calling God to our side?
40. I’m not sure that, for the most part, Christians do that enough.
41. We have the right to implore the Lord to come to our aid.
42. This right only exists for faithful Christians.