“And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD {Jehovah} shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32a).

“11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:11-13).

     As we saw in an earlier study in this series, the words receive and confess are very much interrelated. They are not equal to believing as the Reductionists would have us believe. Neither is receiving Christ equal to confessing Christ as LORD. The important truth regarding receiving and confessing is Who we are receiving and confessing. Understanding the Person we are receiving and confessing gives considerable depth to what we are doing as these two terms interrelate with believing. This understanding then connects us deeply, intimately, and intricately to the spiritual convictions that turn our hearts from sin to “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21) that must precede receiving and confessing Jesus as LORD.

     As we have seen, all of these individual responses to the gospel message are individual and different responses. Yet, they are very much interrelated. If one faith response truly exists, it must lead us to the next response. Believing that Jesus is a holy, righteous, and just God and that we are sinners before Him, necessitates that we will respond in humility before Him in repentance. If repentance is not the response of this understanding, we do not really understand Who Jesus is or the consequences of our sinfulness before Him. He is the just Judge and we are already condemned and guilty sinners before Him (John 3:18).

“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:16-21).

     In this study, we want to connect all of these terms (repent, receive, believe, and confess) to next interrelated word, which is call. Romans 10:13 is a quote from Joel 2:32. Although the truth and application is relevant to all sinners (the intent of the word “whosever”), Paul’s instruction in Romans 10:13 is directed primarily in this text to National Israel (Rom. 10:1) of which the vast majority of individuals needed to be saved in order to become part of True Israel (Spiritual Israel). Our understanding of Romans 10:13 must come from our understanding of Joel 2:32. Our understanding of these two texts cannot be contradictory. Our understanding of these two texts must be complimentary.

     The word “call” from Joel 2:32 is translated from the Hebrew word qara' (kaw-raw'). Although the primary meaning of the word simply means to address someone by their name, the context of Joel 2:32 gives us a much deeper meaning by the implication of the circumstances that surround the instruction. The context of Joel chapter two (2) is the restoration of National Israel from God’s national judgment due to National Israel’s failure to keep the conditions of the Mosaic Covenant.

     The Mosaic Covenant was a “blessing and a curse” covenant for National Israel. Because the leadership of National Israel failed to enforce the requirements of the Mosaic Covenant, God judged National Israel with the Times of the Gentiles (the 70 weeks of years or 70 Heptads of Daniel; Dan. 9:24). Sixty-nine (69) of those weeks have already been fulfilled in history. The seventieth (70th) week of years (Heptad) is the Seven Year Tribulation of God’s promised judgment of the nations. After this 70th week, God will restore National Israel to world dominion under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

     God’s judgment upon National Israel during the Times of the Gentiles has taken the form of various captivities and persecutions. Although individual Jews could repent, believe, and be saved at any time during the Times of the Gentiles, God required national repentance for the restoration of National Israel. This national repentance will take place during the Seven Year Tribulation in God’s judgment of the nations. There were numerous movements that sought to lead the Nation of Israel into repentance down through the years of the Times of the Gentiles. The last movement was at the time of Jesus Christ from a group known as the Baptists (Essenes). At the time of Christ, the spokesman for this group was a prophet and preacher named John the Baptist. We cannot separate his ministry from the message of God regarding God’s continued desire to restore repentant National Israel. However, the leadership of Israel refused to repent.

“1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:1-12).

     Understanding this historical and prophetic context, we can understand the statements of Joel 2:32a and Romans 10:13. God was allowing individual deliverance and salvation to “whoever” was willing to repent, believe, and call unto Jehovah for salvation. In Romans 10:13, the Word of God is telling us that Jehovah’s Name is now Jesus. Any individual, either Jew or Gentile, could call upon the Name of Jesus recognizing Him as LORD and be saved from God’s judgment and damnation. This message was part of Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 and Peter’s second message to the rulers and leaders of Israel in Acts chapter 4.

“And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

“1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:1-12).

     We cannot separate the mission of the Church corporate and every local church of Jesus Christ from the mission of proclaiming the message of the Gospel to the “Jew first.”

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

“4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:4-11).

     A unity of all nations, cultures, and ethnicities is created when individuals from all these nations, cultures, and ethnicities recognize through faith of the person and work of Jesus Christ. That unity is called “the regeneration” (the again genesis). Anyone can enter into “the regeneration” by being “born again” of the Spirit of God. Being “born again” of the Spirit of God does not come by keeping the Commandments (Moralism) or through participation in some religious ritual (Ritualism). Being “born again” of the Spirit of God is a supernatural regeneration of a sinner into a saint in the eyes of God in the instant when that sinner repents of sin, believes the objective facts of the “finished” work of Jesus in His dearth, burial, and resurrection, confesses Jesus to be Jehovah God in human flesh, receives Him as the Lord of their lives, and calls on Him to save their souls. There is no other Name and no other Way.

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours” (I Corinthians 1:2).

“5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:5-6).