Whoever Shall

Acts 2:21 - And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

This truth about calling on the name of the Lord can either be easy or difficult to understand. First it is the power of God! But it also is an act of our will. It’s an easy thing to do but often our will gets in the way. Oh, that pride that so strongly dwells within each of us. 

To be truly saved and called children of God, we must do exactly as the Bible suggests...

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) Repenting of sin can only be done by calling on the name of the Lord...only on the name of the Lord. Jesus Himself said that He is the only way, truth and life. No one else saves. We cannot save ourselves by good works or by knowing someone who is saved or going to church. I’m sure by now this sounds quite repetitive (and will continue to be) but there’s only one truth and one way by which we can receive forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. How many ways can it be explained? Only one way...the same way!

Let’s go one verse further, Acts 2:39, For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. This is telling us the promise of the remission of sin is for all people. This is not saying that because of one being saved, it passes on to others. Each must call on the name of the Lord. In some way, shape or form, He is extending the invitation to repent. It is up to us to respond. And a bonus when we do is the gift of the Holy Spirit who will teach us the truth. Jesus is the way to life and is the truth. He will open our understanding to the writings in the Bible.

You will note baptism comes after repentance. As a commentary I read explains: for several reasons be baptized should not be joined with for the remission of sins to teach baptismal regeneration. First, the context of this passage demonstrates that the repentance is only connected with the removal of sin at salvation: “whosoever shall call… shall be saved.” A baby can’t repent; it has no understanding of sin; so baptism for the remission of sin does not work and yet that is the way of most churches, including the one I was part of as a child. How could it be that so many churches are, sadly, mistaken? Two articles on baptism:

https://www.gotquestions.blog/biblical-baptism.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/children-baptism-communion.html

We must be able to understand we have a sinful nature and need for a Savior.  

Acts 4:12 - Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

So Simple

Matthew‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭- But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

I came across this stashed away in my IPad notes. Short and oh so sweet. 

A friend and I were at lunch the other day (in April). This is the same friend I mentioned the other day. We talked, as usual, about the things of God. It's always uplifting conversation.

She told me how she was with her two granddaughters when they were like four and six. Today both are adults, one married. The oldest girl decided to bring out a children's Bible from which to read.

Before they started the older girl asked, I have Jesus in my heart, don't I Grammy? To which the response was, Yes, you do!!! (I'm guessing there is something special about Grammies and their grandchildren. I think back on my Grammies and one of my Grampas. My friend was present when her granddaughters both received Christ.) 

The younger granddaughter then asked, Do I have Jesus in my heart? Grammy's response was, I don't know if you do. The little girl pondered it but still wasn't sure. 

Grammy: If you're not sure, ask Jesus.

Girl: Will you pray for me?

Grammy: No, you need to ask Him yourself. I can't do it for you.

So the four year old prayed and prayed! She asked Jesus to live in her heart. To this day she follows the Lord. This wasn't some contrived prayer someone asked her to pray. It was a prayer from a sincere, childlike heart. 

It's THAT simple. It comes from a pure heart of desire. When 
God hears and knows the heart is sincere of anyone who seeks to have Him become part of their lives, He will not refuse. 

An adult can come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as simply as this four year old girl. Often our idea that we know it all and there's no more room for childish behavior get in the way of knowing our Creator and our Father. Consider Jesus' words. Consider knowing truth. It's not something one regrets. 

Matthew‬ ‭18:2-3 - Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter 
the kingdom of heaven.‭‭