ONE MESSAGE. ONE FAITH.

"Calling on the Name of the Lord" by  Eric Lyons, M.Min. Considering how many people within “Christendom” teach that an individual can be saved merely by professing a belief in Christ, it is not surprising that skeptics claim that the Bible contradicts itself in this regard. Although Peter and Paul declared, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13; cf. Joel 2:32), skeptics quickly remind their readers that Jesus once stated: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21; cf. Luke 6:46). Allegedly, Matthew 7:21 clashes with such passages as Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13 (see Morgan, 2003; Wells, 2001). Since many professed Christians seem to equate “calling on the name of the Lord” with the idea of saying to Jesus, “Lord, save me,” Bible critics feel even more justified in their pronouncement of “conflicting testimonies.” How can certain p...

Luke 3:7-14 NLT   When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, ...Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath?   8  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.... 10  The crowds asked, “What should we do?” 11  John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” 12  Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13  He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” 14  “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” True repentance is more than a inside-the-heart feeling. It's an action of turning away from old ...

Let's look at 2 Chronicles 34:19. What do you notice? At the Word, How do we respond- hardness and stubbornness and rejection, or meekness and repentance? Do we respond immediately, or do we take our time, responding when it's convenient? Josiah heard the Word and "rent  his clothes." (KJV) To rent means to tear, separate, divide. It is an act of repentance in the spiritual sense.  Sometimes separation is simple. Sometimes it demands us having to literally tear ourselves away from some things, people, and places.  Regardless, we must do what we must in order to walk in the light of the Word rather than the dark temporary pleasures the evil of the world has to offer. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the  Lord  your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.    Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him;- Joel 2:13-14a For th...