Calling Upon Christ's Name

Faith only groups use Acts 2:19 - 21 to assert we just pray to Christ for salvation.

"He who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved"

The phrase actually means to call upon Christ's position as a defense. It doesn't say "call to" but "call upon". In the day of judgment we can point out that we obeyed Christ's word and therefore should be saved. The interesting part of Acts 2:21 is that Acts 2:20 mentions the great and notable day of the Lord. We will appeal to Christ as the covenant mediator when judged by the Father. It is Calling upon Christ's name in that great and notable day.

G1941

ἐπικαλέομαι

epikaleomai

ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee

Middle voice from G1909 and G2564; to entitle; by implication to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.): - appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname.

Total KJV occurrences: 32

The same phrase is used when Paul appealed to Ceaser. He could go before Ceasar's court to show he complied with Ceasar's laws. He could appeal to Ceaser's court as a Roman citizen with standing. We can call upon Christ's name only after receiving adoption into his family. 

Act_28:19  ButG1161 when theG3588 JewsG2453 spake againstG483 it, I was constrainedG315 to appeal untoG1941 Caesar;G2541 notG3756 thatG5613 I hadG2192 oughtG5100 to accuseG2723 myG3450 nationG1484 of.

By calling upon Christ's name we appeal as citizens to his judgment centered in the Gospel.

Instead of us calling upon Christ's name through a prayer today it may be a reference to the judgment day whereby we will be allowed to invoke Christ's name, showing we obeyed his word.

Instead of Acts 2:19-21 limiting the need for baptism, it makes it necessary because this is the method of adoption and citizenship. The word "Call Upon" has reference to an appeal based upon a shared surname. This is only possible after adoption.

Calling upon isn't a prayer for forgiveness, Paul never admitted guilt under Roman law, calling upon was to receive a judgment that you were justified and exhonerated.

As Jesus said in John 12:48, his word will judge us in the last day. Hopefully we can say we heard Christ, we believed him, and we obeyed him. Then we can call upon Christ's name to seal our judgment for salvation. Our salvation will be because we complied with his word. He will judge whether we did or not.

Peter also used the idea in his epistle. Since Peter used the same wording in I Peter 1:17 we can clarify the meaning and context.

see

1Pe 1:17  AndG2532 ifG1487 ye call onG1941 the Father,G3962 who without respect of persons judgethG2919 G678 accordingG2596 to every man'sG1538 work,G2041 passG390 theG3588 timeG5550 of yourG5216 sojourningG3940 here inG1722 fear:G5401

In this verse they were already redeemed by Christ, so it isn't a sinners prayer to become a Christian, but invoking God's aid as a Christian.

Calling upon is during an act of judgment, as God deals with us according to our works. If we comply with his holiness we will be judged with favor. If we expect God's help in judgment we should walk so as to receive his help in a state of holiness.

Instead of judging us based upon one prayer, God takes into account our entire breath of works to judge our love and sincerity.

Prayer after belief and baptism is only part of salvation. Prayer is not excluded, but is only one part of God's word.