Romans 10:13  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Paul quoted this truth from the prophet Joel (2:32). In the Old Testament, to “call on the name of the Lord” refers to worship and thanksgiving and prayer directed to the true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the one who promised rescue from sin, deliverance from death, and life forever to all who trust His promises. Those who have faith in God will call on His name.

However, Jesus issued a warning that appears to contradict this promise.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Rather that contradicting, Jesus is clarifying what it means to call on the name of the Lord. It is not simply saying His name or crying it out in desperation that God desires. He wants us to believe that He is the promised Savior, God Himself, come into the world to take our place in punishment and whose death paid for the sins of the world. God requires faith.

Hebrews 11:6 … without faith it is impossible to please God…

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) shows the problem of putting our confidence in ourselves and our efforts. The one who did so did not go home justified. The one who believed God’s promise and begged for mercy received pardon. Calling on the name of the Lord comes only from faith.

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Those who have this faith will not be perfect. They are still sinners. But their faith receives the covering of the perfection of Jesus which He earned through His life and gives to those who believe in Him.

To those who think, “Yeah, but I still have to do my part,” Jesus offered this counsel.

John 6:28–29 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Our only “work” is to believe, which in itself is a gift from God. We call on the name of the Lord in faith and have the assurance we are saved for His sake.