Sometimes a call is in a name. Sometimes a call is in another Name.
I have written much about the importance of names, words and meanings as well as what it means to be called on this blog (see here, here and here). Recently I felt a new hunger to understand what it means for the beloved to be called by name.
The human heart, from its earliest stirrings, yearns to be known, to be acknowledged, to hear its own unique cadence echoed back. This fundamental desire finds its ultimate fulfillment in the divine, in the profound truth that the Creator of the cosmos knows us, intimately, personally, even by name. Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, resonates with this theme, yet the manner and implication of this divine calling shift dramatically under the radiant light of grace, fully unveiled in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The Old Covenant call
In the Old Covenant, the call of God by name often carried a specific weight, a designation for a particular task or covenantal relationship. When God called Abram (אַבְרָם, ’aḇrām, meaning "exalted father"), it was a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of a nation and a promise that would reverberate through millennia (Genesis 12:1). The very act of calling his name set him apart, initiating a unique trajectory within God's unfolding plan. Similarly, the burning bush encounter where God called Moses (מֹשֶׁה, mōšeh, meaning "drawn out") by name (Exodus 3:4) was not merely an identification; it was a divine commissioning, equipping him for the monumental task of leading Israel out of bondage.
In all these instances the Hebrew word for "call" is קָרָא (qârâ), which signifies to call out, to cry, to proclaim. It carries a sense of divine initiative, a deliberate act of reaching out and designating. Old Covenant callings were often selective, directed towards specific individuals for specific purposes within the framework of the covenant established with Israel. While God’s love and knowledge extended to all humanity, His covenantal dealings and direct name-calling were often primarily focused on appointed leaders.
Consider Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, šĕmû’êl, meaning "heard by God" or "name of God"). The repeated calling of his name, “Samuel, Samuel!” (1 Samuel 3:10), highlights God’s persistent and personal engagement with him, ushering him into the prophetic office. Even Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ, yĕša‘ăyāhû, meaning "Yahweh is salvation") heard the divine inquiry, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" to which he responded, "Here I am! Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). Though Isaiah initiated the response, the underlying reality was God’s prior knowing and choosing.
These instances underscore a God who is intimately involved in the lives of individuals, knowing them by name and assigning them roles within His grand narrative. Yet, these callings operated within the context of the Old Covenant, a covenant established on law, Jewish heritage, history and prophecy with specific, rigid requirements. The blessings and the directness of God’s voice, while profound, were often tied to obedience within that framework.
The New Testament call
The arrival of the New Testament, however, ushered in a radical shift, a paradigm shift rooted in absolute grace and in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The sacrifice on the cross, the once-for-all atonement for sin, tore down the dividing wall (Ephesians 2:14) and all ordinances that were against everybody, ushering in an era of grace that extends to all who believe. The way God calls by name takes on a new dimension, an all-embracing invitation woven into the very fabric of the gospel - the finished work of Christ as the power of God unto salvation. Even the unpronounceable, almighty powerful name of God, YHVH (see here), became momentous, profound and intimate when Jesus called on Him as “Father” and taught us to do so.
The Greek word for "call" in the New Testament is often καλέω (kaleō), which carries a broader sense of inviting, summoning, or appointing. While it retains the element of divine initiative, its application becomes far more inclusive. The central calling of the New Testament is the κλητός (klētos, remember this post?), the called-out ones, those whom God has invited into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:2).
Here’s the transformative truth: in the New Testament, through faith in Jesus Christ, every believer is called by a new name – the name of Jesus. We are no longer primarily defined by our lineage, our adherence to specific laws, or a singular, direct calling for a specific task in an Old Covenant sense. Instead, we are identified as belonging to Christ, as being "in Christ."
Consider the words of Peter: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). The "called you" here (kaleō) is a collective calling out of this world, extended to all by the grace offered through Jesus. This calling is not just to a task, but to a new identity, a new belonging, a new life.
Sons and daughters
Paul’s writings are replete with this understanding. He addresses his letters to the "saints by calling" (κλητοῖς ἁγίοις, klētois hagiois) in Rome (Romans 1:7) and Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2). The term "saints" (ἅγιος, hagios) signifies those who are set apart, holy, consecrated to God. This holiness is not earned through personal merit under the law, but received as a gift through union with Christ. The calling (klētos) is inextricably linked to this sanctification, a divine invitation into God's holy family.
This adoption into God's family is a central theme illuminated by the finished work of Christ. As Romans 8:14 powerfully declares, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." The Greek word for "led" is ἄγω (agō), signifying to lead, guide, or direct. This speaks to an ongoing, intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit (the Paraklētos), who indwells every believer in the New Testament. It is not through adherence to external laws, but through the internal guidance of the Spirit that we are identified and called as God's children (υἱός, huios), mature sons possessing the full rights and privileges of sonship.
This sonship is not a mere title; it carries profound implications. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted (υἱοθεσία, huiothesia, meaning the legal act of adoption, placing as a son - see this post) into God's family (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5). This adoption, made possible by Christ's complete redemptive work, grants us an inheritance that transcends earthly possessions. We become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (συγκληρονόμος, synklēronomos, meaning co-heir) (Romans 8:17). This inheritance is not limited to future glory but encompasses the very nature and blessings of God's kingdom, right now and forever.
The difference
The Old Covenant emphasis on specific individuals being called by their personal names for particular roles gives way in the New Testament to a broader, more inclusive calling into the very identity of Christ, empowered and guided by His Holy Spirit. We are called by the name of Jesus in the sense that our identity, our standing before God, our inheritance, and our purpose are all found in Him. We are baptized into His name (Matthew 28:19), we pray in His name (John 14:13), and we are saved by His name (Acts 4:12). Our new identity as sons and daughters of God is inextricably bound to His.
This doesn't diminish God's personal knowledge of us. Just as the Good Shepherd knows His sheep by name (John 10:3), God knows each of His children intimately. However, the primary mode of divine calling in the New Covenant is the invitation to be identified with Jesus Christ and to be led by His Spirit. It is through this identification, this being "in Christ" and being guided by the Spirit, that we receive the fullness of God's grace, the faculty of eternal life, and the inheritance of sons and daughters.
The echo of God's voice calling by name in the Old Covenant served as powerful markers of divine purpose within a specific covenant and point in history. In the New Testament, that echo resonates through the proclamation of the gospel, inviting all to be called by the name of Jesus, to find their identity and inheritance in His finished work, and to be led by the indwelling Holy Spirit as true sons and daughters of God. The invitation stands open: hear His voice, embrace His grace, surrender to the Spirit's leading, and answer to the name that truly defines you – a beloved child of God, called by the name of Jesus, and empowered as a joint-heir with Christ.
The answer
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved - Romans 10:13.
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