I usually do not quote single verses out of context, but during my run I developed this deep desire to look at what the original words communicate.
This is the verse: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Simple!
But loaded.
Yet, easily corruptible by the law-preacher.
… and off-cause I had to look at the context … just to make me better understand.
Background check
We are reading Paul’s letter to the Romans … in fact, he is addressing the Jews here, explaining how they had a certain superficial knowledge about who God (not any God, but the One and Only true God, YHVH) was. But they had no intimate knowledge.
Paul takes time to explain that Moses presented the possibility (a very unattainable possibility) of righteousness should one could fully subscribe to, and follow the law.
More importantly, Paul describes a better way, an easily attainable righteousness by mere conviction that Christ is the full package.
The aftermath
Now in this new dispensation, Christ is so near onto everyone of us, even in our hearts and in our mouth, so that whosoever confesses (see this post on confess if you still don't know the word really means) YHVH-Yahshua, raised from the dead, shall be saved …
Back to the future
Verse 13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It doesn't matter who you are. He is the same God-the-Savior to all who call.
Call
Call, a peculiar word in its translated form. But in the Greek it springs to life. The Greek word translated here is the word epikaleō. It is a composite word from epi, meaning on, upon, by over, of the position, across, and kaleō meaning call out loud, to utter out aloud, to invite, to name, to receive, to be called, to bear the name title. (to better understand what it means to be called, check out this post and this post)
Who?
Whosoever!
I believe this is one of the most accurately translated words meaning exactly what it says - whosoever, anyone …
Whose name is referred to?
It is here where the Greek falls short. Remember that Yahshua and his followers as well as Paul who studied in the temple under Gamaliel, would have conversed in the Hebrew tongue.
The Greek says the “name of kurios” meaning merely the name of the person to which it belongs, the one in authority, the title …
But looking at a direct translation, you will quickly discover that it says “the name of יהוה (YHVH)”
I wonder if you remember the post on Yahshua IS YHVH and Who it was that went to the cross?
So, it is easy.
No rocket science.
Call on the full representation of YHVH, Who completed the work on the cross - Jesus!
Look at what Paul explains next
Paul explains the belief-part to the Jews, how that they have to hearken, be told and hearken the true report of the Gospel - not the law. The Gospel! (I explain hearken in this post)
And this faith is a natural cause sprouting from hearing the Word (Jesus) of God, the One Who is and was from before the foundation of this earth open and accessible to whosoever!
epikaleō
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