Calling on the Name of the Lord in NT - 8

Subject:  Call on Yahweh?  Call on Yeshua?

In the OT, whenever we see the phrase "Call on the Name of the LORD", we know definitely that we are to "Call on the Name of Yahweh".  The original Hebrew text refers to Yahweh.

However in the NT, some passages refer to calling on Yahweh, while other passages refer to calling on Jesus' name.

So do we call on Yahweh or do we call on Jesus?  I've struggled with this question for many years. 

As I meditated more and more on God's salvation plan for mankind through Jesus, an answer begins to emerge.

In the last 3 articles, we saw these 3 important points:  

• Yahweh gives the name Yeshua to Jesus.  
• Yeshua means Yahweh saves.  
• In Yeshua, we see Yahweh's salvation.

Obviously, the primary source of salvation comes from Yahweh. Yahweh initiates and works out our salvation through Yeshua to atone for our sins so that we can receive forgiveness from Yahweh, to be reconciled to Yahweh.

Peter says in Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

• Again the stress is on God's salvation
• The name Yeshua is given to Jesus (by Yahweh)
• Under heaven, among men, Yeshua is the only name by which we must be saved.

You cannot find salvation in the name of Buddha. You cannot find salvation in the name of Pope. You cannot find salvation in the name of your pastor. You cannot find salvation in the name of your church. You cannot even find salvation in your own name and save yourself.

**Only in Yeshua, Yahweh saves**

Salvation comes from Yahweh through Yeshua.   We call on Yeshua to reconcile to Yahweh.  The Christians in early church called on Jesus (1 Cor 1:2, Acts 9:14, 21, 22:16, Rom 10:12-14) to save them, for Jesus is indeed the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice to reconcile men to Yahweh (1Pe 1:18-21).  Yahweh is the One who causes us to be born again at baptism.  Yahweh forgives our sins and grants us the new life through Jesus.

And after Yahweh raised Jesus up in resurrection, Yahweh did something amazing to Jesus. Yahweh ascended and glorified Jesus as Lord and Christ, seating on his right hand side, because Jesus unconditionally obeyed God (Eph 1:19-21; Rom 8:34). This is too marvellous! A Wonder to behold!

Can you feel the joy and excitement in the hearts of the early disciples?  When they called on Jesus, they lifted up their hearts with thanksgiving to Yahweh, the One who sent the long awaited Messiah to save them. Hallelujah!  The Messiah had indeed come! The Messiah was crucified, buried and Yahweh raised him up from the dead.  The Messiah accomplished the salvation work, fulfilling the OT prophecies. Blessed be the Name of Yahweh!  Yahweh even ascended Jesus to heaven. Yahweh exalted Christ to be head of the church. How incredible this is!  This is all for our sake. In calling Jesus, the early church expressed their faith in Yahweh who brought all these prophecies into fulfilment. In calling Jesus, the church was submitting to the Lordship of Yahweh and Christ. Even if it seemed like they were calling on Yeshua, they were also calling on Yahweh to save them. Thru Yeshua, Yahweh saves.

The early apostles did not stop there and just called on Jesus.  They called on Yahweh when they prayed.  Their prayers were always directed toward God and not to Jesus.  In prayer and worship, Yahweh was the name they called, not Jesus. Peter and Paul exhorted the church to call on the Name of Yahweh (Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13, 2 Tim 2:22).  

Jesus is the central focus in the atoning work of our salvation.  Jesus is never the focus in our prayers.  We must not mix the two.  In prayer, Yahweh is always the center of focus.  This is true in OT as well as in NT.

"Calling on the Name of the Lord" is about spending time in prayer, to commune with God.  So we must learn to call on the Name of Yahweh when we pray.  The Name of Yahweh will draw us to build a relationship with God, closer and closer, deeper and deeper each day.

:)