CALLING UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD (ELDER FA CHICK)

Brother, I M Gentry of Tennessee has requested some remarks from us upon Acts 2.21. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We will not hear call special attention to the connection of these words, Father than to say that they stand at the close of a very wonderful prophecy quoted from Joel, which Peter declared was now fulfilled. The prophecy related to the ushering in of the gospel dispensation and described the glories which belonged to it. The scenes enacted from the day of Pentecost were the fulfillment of this prophecy. By this declaration of Peter, we do not understand that this prophecy pointed out nothing beyond that particular day or the scenes witnessed that day. But we feel convinced that the whole of the gospel dispensation is included in the prophecy and that it signified the coming. And work of the Spirit or the Comforter who should be sent after Jesus had ascended to his Father.

Now in this gospel dispensation it is declared to be true, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. This is a plain and simple statement, and yet what profound mysteries are connected with it? This declaration of Holy writ enters into the very life of all Christian experience. It is inseparably connected with the hope of every child of God. These words lead our minds into the mystery which had been kept hidden for ages and from generations. That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is signified by the word whosoever. They also present a mystery of prayer, such prayer as true and heartfelt. Existing and arising from the soul of every child of God. This is presented in the words shall call. They also present the only being who can hear and answer prayer, and who alone can create in the heart the spirit of prayer. This is set forth in the words on the name of the Lord. These words are also present at the time of which the Bible is full. And which is also the chief concern of everyone who truly prays for the salvation of sinners. This is presented in the words shall be saved three times. In this short text is the fixed certainty of the purpose and work of the Lord declared by the use of the word shall. Thus it is seen at a glance that the text, though made up of few words, contains a vast volume of meaning. We do not know just what was in the mind of our brother Gentry when in regard to this text. But desire to call attention to two things which have for many years been in our mind concerning it.

The first thing is calling upon the name of the Lord. This is prayer and a true calling upon his name is meant. Nothing is more of an abomination in the eyes of the God of heaven than to call upon him with the lips while the heart is far from him. It is a knowledge of this truth that causes the people of God such trembling of spirit when they attempt to pray, lest it should be but lip service. Oh, how often when attempting to pray, either in secret or in a public manner, are believers well nigh overwhelmed and frightened away from the throne of grace by this fear, and also by the coming up into their minds of all manner of foolish, light trifling or of vile, blasphemous thoughts? Prayer to such ones is not a light thing. It is an awfully serious thing, in the view of a child of God, to attempt to pray.

But even though they fear and hesitate to pray, yet they do pray, and they pray without ceasing. They must pray. Their necessities compelled them to pray the poor sinner, whose lips are so unclean that he cannot pray or speak, yet praise all the time. His very confession of uncleanliness and of his inability to pray is prayer. It is the very spirit of prayer. Their chief trouble and burden of such a one is sin. Sin lies that the door, his own door, sin, his own sin, finds him out. Turn where he will. It meets him. It is mixed with all he does. Nay, more than this, it dwells in his heart and fills his whole being. It has to such a one, become a most grievous reproach and shame and burden. From this burden, he cannot relieve himself and no friend can help him. He has tried such strength as he has, and it has utterly failed him. Now such a one must cry for help, and because there is no other help, he calls upon the name of the Lord. He is driven to thus call. He must call. Nothing can prevent his calling. Sore need is pressing hard upon him. His cry is sharp, earnest, and poignant. It is real. It cannot be imitated. Yet not a word or sound may fall from his lips. It is the intercession of one who does not know what to pray for, as he ought, but in whose heart the Spirit is making continual intercession, where groanings which cannot be uttered.

This is prayer. Prayer such as God hears and loves. It is such prayer as God himself begets in the soul. It is the vital breath of the soul. The soul cannot stop breathing. We can teach others to repeat words that may in themselves be good and right words. If the one who utters them feels them. But we cannot teach anyone to pray. We cannot teach our little children to pray. If we put words into their mouths and have them kneel down by our side and repeat those words, it is not prayer. If we teach them that this is prayer, we deceive them. It is not prayer unless they really feel what they are taught to say.

It is a solemn question. Have we ever thus truly called upon the name of the Lord? To our sins and our troubles. So press us that as a cart burdened with sheaves, we groan? We believe that thousands of our readers know what it is to be so burdened that they cannot help crying. This is calling upon the name of the Lord. This is prayer.

The second thing we desired to notice was the assurance given, that such as call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. In one sense, they are saved. It is evidence of salvation to call upon the name of the Lord. The first evidence that the disciples had concerning Saul of Tarsus that he was a changed man, a true disciple. Was when the news reached him. Behold, he prays. But those who call upon the name of the Lord, out of a past experience of guilt and sorrow, desire what they call for, and their desire shall be granted. They shall be saved. So the leper was cleansed, and the issue of blood was stopped, and the blind received sight when they called upon the name of the Lord. And there is no exception. There is no failure, whosoever is the Word. That means the poorest, the weakest, the vilest, the most sinful. It means the beggar as well as the rich. It means just slaves as well as the free. It means whosoever has need, whosoever shall truly call upon God. But it does not mean the formalist, the legalist, the ritualist. It means God's humble poor.

In this text is settled the great question that is in every believer's heart. Am I a child of God or not? Have I any evidence of my salvation? How plain and simple is this testimony? Whosoever shall call. This means the feeblest groan from the feeblest child who needs mercy. Such shall be saved. Here is the evidence they call upon God. His name is all their trust. If brethren, you can recall seasons in your life in the past. If it is so now with you. If you have called upon God in your distress, then this joyful news belongs to you. You shall be saved. God has spoken it. He cannot lie, He cannot deny himself. Your glorious foundation stands. The Lord knows his own, and his words pledge to save you. Finally, may we not bid you rejoice for the day of your redemption draws nigh. What you most desire and long for shall be yours. And as the truth has from time to time comfort our own hearts. So they comfort the heart of our brethren, who may read what is here feebly written.

August 28, 1895
Editorial, Signs of the Times