1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is in Corinth…with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, who is theirs and ours.
Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all and rich to all who call upon Him;
[Part 2 of 4]
In the New Testament calling on the name of the Lord is mentioned first by Peter, in Acts 2:21, on the day of Pentecost as the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. This fulfillment is related to God’s outpouring of the all- inclusive Spirit economically upon His chosen people so that they may participate in His New Testament jubilee. Joel’s prophecy and its fulfillment for God’s New Testament jubilee have two aspects: on God’s side, He poured out His Spirit in the ascension of the resurrected Christ; on our side, we call on the name of the ascended Lord who has accomplished all, attained unto all, and obtained all.
It is vitally necessary for us, the believers in Christ, to participate in and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ with all He has accomplished, attained, and obtained. It is a major practice in God’s New Testament economy that we may enjoy the processed Triune God for our full salvation (Rom. 10:10- 13). The early believers practiced this everywhere, and it became a popular sign of Christ’s believers toward the unbelievers, especially the persecutors (Acts 9:14, 21).
When Stephen suffered persecution, he practiced this (Acts 7:59), and his practice surely impressed Saul, one of his persecutors (Acts 7:58-60). Then the unbelieving Saul persecuted these callers (Acts 9:14, 21) by taking their calling as a sign. Immediately after Saul was caught by the Lord, Ananias, who brought him into the fellowship of the Body of Christ, charged him to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord [Acts 22:16], to show others that he also had become such a caller.
[Continued Tomorrow]
Thought of the Day:
By Calling on the name of the Lord, We believers in Christ participate in and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ with all He has accomplished, attained, and obtained. The early believers practiced this everywhere, and it became a popular sign of Christ’s believers toward the unbelievers.
Prayer Confession:
Dear Lord, just as the Apostles Received the Spirit’s out pouring by Calling your name in prayer, may i enjoy your fellowship as i call upon your all powerful saving name Jesus. Amen
Further Bible Reading:
Jer_17:7; 1Pe_2:6.
