We read in Acts 2:21 that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” The question is, “Who is this Lord that Saves us?”
When studying verses such as Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21, and Joel 2:32, it is essential to consider these translations within the context of scriptural uniformity. The Old and New Testament scriptures must be harmonious and consistent rather than contradictory.
For example, in Joel 2:32, it is relatively easy to discern that ‘the Lord’ is a false insertion because it replaces the name of Yahweh. In the Old Testament, another word (with a completely different etymology) addresses men, although it is also translated as lord.
However, in Romans 10:13 and hundreds of other New Testament passages, the same word, ‘Lord,’ which is a title for men, is also used to replace the name of Yahweh. It does not require a great intellect to realize how wrong this is.
Due to a multitude of false translations, there is tremendous confusion about God’s plan for Salvation; two Saviors have been penned into the New Testament scriptures, and they are both called ‘the Lord’ (Jude 1:4, 1 Tim 1:1).
A Child asks, “How do I call upon the name of the Lord?”
After reading Romans 10:13, Rebecca, who is sixteen and well-versed in the Bible, asked Harold, who leads a children’s Bible study, a logical question.
- “What is the name of the Lord I am supposed to call upon so that I might be Saved”?
Harold quickly replies, “The Lord Jesus is his name; call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
Rebecca then reads Romans 10:9, which states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
- “So, if I confess the name of the Lord Jesus and believe God raised him, I will be saved, right?”
Answering with a simple “yes,” he is not expecting the next two questions.
- “Do I need to call upon the name of the Lord God as well? I read about him in Jude 1:4.”
- “I do not want to deny ‘the only Lord God,’ so who is this other Lord, and what is his name?”
While searching for an appropriate response, Harold tries to gather his thoughts, and Rebecca then reads two more verses in quick succession.
Romans 14:10-11 says, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” because it is written, “As I live,” declares the Lord, “every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
And then in Isaiah 45:22-23, God says, “Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess.”
The questions that follow are equally difficult to answer. He glances at his pocket watch, jots down a few more notes, and is thankful that the class is almost over.
In his mind, Harold starts questioning the teachings of the trinity; as Rebecca concludes her thought-provoking analysis, that uncertainty will only grow stronger.
- “Do I need to confess to God also, even if I do not know his name”? Rebecca asks, with a puzzled look on her face.
- “And how can I kneel before the Lord Jesus Christ and the LORD God?”
While still pondering why one Lord is named while the other is not (a question he had never heard before), he is now just as confused as the curious child and unsure how best to proceed; meanwhile, her inquiries continue.
- “How can the Lord Jesus also be my Savior if the LORD God in Isaiah 45:21 says he is the only Savior and there is no other God? Thomas called Jesus Lord and God in John 20:28, didn’t he?”
- Philippians 2:9-10 says, “God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him a name above all others, to which every knee shall bow.”
Recalling part of a verse from Isaiah 42:8 that reads, “I Am the Lord, that is my name,” he wonders if the Lord is really the Father’s name.
With Sarah’s last question, Harold asks himself, ‘Is this child reading my mind? What is going on here?’
“Is that why the LORD God does not have a name like the Lord Jesus does, because only Jesus is now exalted?” she asks.
The clock strikes seven, and Harold dismisses the class, relieved that it’s over – for now. He tries to put on a smile but is visibly shaken and does his best not to show it to the children.
As witnessed in the scenario above, confusion about the identity of the Savior is all too real, and there are many legitimate questions that most people cannot readily answer.
If someone were to say to an atheist, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” would they understand? Probably not, as the word lord is a generic title that could be used to address many people.
Several lords are mentioned in the scriptures, and they are worth examining more closely to determine how they relate to the overall narrative of the Bible.
Calling upon the Lord in the New Testament
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (G2962) shall be saved.
In the New Testament, the Greek word kyrios (G2962), is translated into English as Lord, master, and sir.
A translation occurs when text from one language is converted to a close equivalent text in another to keep the original meaning intact. Words are translated, but names are not.
Even though this title of lord is used to address men, the false scribes used ‘the lord’ as a replacement for the name of Yahweh (John 1:23, Isa 40:3, 42:8).
The etymology or root word of kyrios (G2962) is from kuros (another Greek word), and it is not derived from the original Hebrew name of Yahweh – that is a spiritual crime of epic proportions!
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name…
Consider Mat 6:9 for additional context. How can one pray to the Father without knowing or using his name? Indeed, our Heavenly Father’s name is not ‘the Lord.’
It is said that God has many names, but this rhetoric contradicts what Yahweh declares (Eze 20:9, 22, 43:7, Isa 45:23).
Yahweh has one name, which is obviously Yahweh; God, Savior, Redeemer, and Messiah are all titles, not names.
Some now claim that to call upon the name of the Lord is to declare that Yahweh is your God.
- It’s essential to understand that “the Lord” is not a name, even when it’s written in all caps, which by the way, goes against the rules of writing mechanics.
- To call upon God’s name, one would have to use His actual name.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord (G1203) God, and our Lord (G2962) Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:4 mentions two Lords; the first Lord is a translation from despotēs (G1203).
The English word despot is derived from the Greek word despotēs, which describes one with power, such as a master. A despot can also refer to a tyrant or ruler with absolute power.
- Which of these two Lords do you call upon for your Salvation?
- Are we to call upon the name of the Lord God who is not named?
- Or are we saved by calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ?
According to many preachers, the key to Salvation lies in the name of ‘the Lord’ Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:10-12).
Let us turn now to the Old Testament, where we will find another Savior who is also called ‘the Lord.’
Calling on the Lord in the Old Testament
The children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh and made Baal their lord or master (Jdg 2:11).
According to the Bible, Baal was the lord, or master, of those who turned away from Yahweh. References to this can be found in Judges 2:11, 3:7, and 10:10, as well as in 1 Kings 16:31.
Elijah said to Ahab, ye have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and thou hast followed Baal.
Elijah did not call upon the name of the Lord; he called upon the name of Yahweh (1 Ki 18:24).
The false prophets foolishly called on the name of (their lord) Baal for many hours, but there was no answer (1 Ki 18:25).
Elijah called upon the name of Yahweh, and He answered with fire from Heaven (1 Kings 18:38).
Those who call upon the name of their lord or master, Baal, will not be saved.
You may still believe it is all right to call Yahweh the Lord, but as for me and my house, we will call upon Yahweh as did Joshua (Joshua 24:15).
- I AM the LORD that is my name – these eight words may very well be the most deceptive in the entirety of Yahweh’s Holy Scriptures.
Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD <H3068>: that is my name <H8034>: and my glory <H3519> will I not give <H5414> to another <H312>, neither my praise <H8416> to graven images <H6456>
- A transliteration is the process of changing words from one language into the corresponding characters of another alphabet or language. The goal is to preserve the sound of the original word.
- The four Hebrew letters (Strongs H 3068 -YHWH), Yod, Hay,Waw, and Hay, are pronounced ee-ah-oo-eh. In English, this transliteration is pronounced as Yah-weh.
- The name of Yahweh needs to be reinstated in Isaiah 42:8. The verse should read, “I AM Yahweh, that is my name, and my glory shall you not give to another, neither give praises to graven images.”
The phrase “and my glory will I not give to another” from Isa 42:8 is a false translation. The correct interpretation is that the glory due to Yahweh should not be given to any other god or lord (that cannot save us); likewise, the praises Yahweh is entitled to should not be given to idols.
It is beyond belief how any preacher or so-called scholar can utter these false and deceptive words from Isa 42:8.
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD (H3068) shall be saved (or delivered)
In the New Testament scriptures, only Jesus can save us, while in the Old Testament, Yahweh alone is Savior.
Isa 43:11 I am Yahweh, and beside me there is no savior
In Joel 2:32, the LORD (H3068) is an impossible transliteration of Yahweh’s name, and the other Lord (G2962), penned into Rom 10:13, must never be used to address Yahweh, who alone is God.
As clearly outlined, these two words are easily distinguishable from one another when using a Strong’s Concordance.
Which Lord do we Call Upon to be Saved
Since “the Lord” is an incorrect transliteration of Yahweh’s name, how can anyone declare that Jesus is also the Lord?
- The deception regarding ‘Calling upon the name of the Lord’ has been exposed—it is nonsensical.
- Those who call upon the name of Yahweh shall be saved when he returns at the end of this age (Matt 10:22, 1 Thes 5:8, 1 Peter 1:9).
- This powerful and hopeful promise should bring us comfort and reassurance.
The trinity teaches that there Is One God in three persons. In the KJV, one of these persons is named Jesus and called the Lord God (John 20:28). The other (Lord) – called by the titles of God and the Father – remains nameless.
1 Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
- If Jesus and Yahweh are addressed as Lord and God, then we’re talking about two Gods’.
- Refer to the cutting-edge study guide entitled ‘The Lord said to my Lord’ for an in-depth analysis.
- Two persons claiming to be God cannot become a singular God; it’s not Biblical, logical, or possible (John 20:28, Acts 3:22, Deut 18:15-19).
- Moreover, Jesus and Yahweh cannot both be Saviors (1 Tim 1:1, Rom 10:9, Joel 2:32).
Heb 9:28 So Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation
What is declared in Rom 10:13, John 2:19, Joel 2:32, and Isa 43:11 will refute what is written in Rom 10:9, when we remove the title of Lord and insert the name of Yahweh.
For the Messiah to be the Savior, He must also be Yahweh – which he is (Isa 45:21).
The earnest (which is a down payment) unto an inheritance with our Messiah, is that we are sealed with His Spirit of promise. The fulfillment of this contract is our redemption which is realized when Messiah returns with our Salvation (Eph 1:13-14, Heb 9:28, 1 Peter 1:5).
Two pieces of defensive armor for believers include the breastplate of faith, and a helmet, which is the hope of our Salvation (1 Thes 5:8, Eph 6:17).
We cannot hope for something that we claim (albeit falsely) to already possess (Romans 8:23-25).
In closing, it is essential to understand that Yahweh our Savior manifest Himself in the flesh as the Messiah.
Moreover, our Savior raised Himself from the Grave; He did not need another person (who is also called God) to do so (Rom 10:9).
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…
The study guide entitled ‘call upon the name of Yahweh’ is available Here.
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered (or Saved)