Whoever Calls Upon The Name Of The Lord Shall Be Saved

Romans 10:13 is not the first place this is said. Peter said it on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:21), and Joel had written it hundreds of years before. The question is, does Romans 10:9-13 tell the whole story regarding what a person must do to be saved? No. Shortly before this, Paul mentions being buried with Christ by baptism into death so we could rise to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4) And what about repentance? Wouldnt you agree that repentance is necessary? Romans 10, then, does not give the whole picture. Calling on the name of the Lord is obviously our pleading to Him to save us, but it is not simply a prayer that we utter. Notice in Acts 2, that Peter quotes this promise, then preaches Jesus as Lord and Christ. When the believers ask what to do to be saved, we understand them to be asking how to call upon the name of the Lord. Peter does not tell them to pray, but tells them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) Notice that the preacher, Ananias, gave Paul the exact same instruction. Paul had been praying and fasting with faith for three days, and Ananias told him to arise and be baptized and wash away [his] sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16; 9:1-19) Notice that Romans 10:17 mentions hearing the word of God, verses 9-10 mention faith and confession of faith, and verse 16 mentions obedience to the gospel. This all helps explain calling upon the name of the Lord in verse 13.

The Sinners Prayer is NOT in the Bible

When sinners pray, we understand the need and the emotion, but we are faced with some Bible facts: 1. Behold, the Lords hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2, as said to the backsliding nation of Israel) 2. The example of Saul: He had been persecuting Christians as an unbeliever. When he spoke to the resurrected Jesus, he then prayed with fasting for three days. God knew he was praying, but notice how God answered: God sent a preacher. The preacher came and told Saul, not to pray more, but to arise and be baptized and wash away [his] sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16; 9:1-19) 3. In the New Testament, non-Christians are never told to pray for salvation. Only after becoming a Christian can we repent and pray for forgiveness. (Acts 8:9-24; 1 John 1: 8 2:2)

We appeal to God for salvation, not so much by our words, as by our obedience.