The Lord's Initiative in Salvation Invitation and Call
Salvation is understood as originating with God, who purposes and appoints it [3]. This divine initiative is evident in various forms of "calling" that invite individuals to salvation. The call of God can manifest through Christ, His Spirit, His works in creation, His ministers, and the Gospel itself [2].
The concept of salvation is deeply rooted in biblical texts. For instance, the Psalmist declares, "I shall lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD" (Psalm 116:13 NASB) [1]. The Old Testament also contains prophecies of salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles [3]. Names like "Hoshaiah" and "Isaiah" even carry the meaning "the salvation of the Lord," reflecting this ancient understanding [4, 5].
The New Testament further articulates the nature of this divine call and salvation. Paul writes in Ephesians that individuals are given life "when he raised Christ from the dead," emphasizing that salvation is "only by God’s grace" [6]. This grace-based salvation is "not because" of human actions, but "because" of God's mercy, received through faith [7]. Good works are seen as a result of salvation, not its cause, flowing from a transformed heart by God's Spirit [8].
The call to salvation is addressed to all people, though many reject it [2]. However, for those who respond, the call is considered effectual [2]. This "effectual call" is described as being "of grace," "according to the purpose of God," and leading to a "high," "holy," and "heavenly" life [2]. It invites individuals into fellowship with Christ and to holiness [2].
The act of "calling upon the name of the Lord" is central to receiving salvation [12]. This phrase, found in Joel 2:32, is applied to Jesus in Romans 10:13, indicating that Jesus is understood as Yahweh, and the call is to Messiah in His divine attributes [13]. This calling is not merely a desperate act but accompanies a lifelong commitment of worship, service, and fellowship [14]. Those who call upon the Lord's name "shall be saved," a salvation that is spiritual and eternal [12].
The process of salvation involves a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit, signifying a departure from a life of sin and a transfer into a realm of purity [7]. This transformation includes shedding the "old sinful nature" and embracing a "new nature" in Christ, allowing Him to guide one's life [10]. This new nature, expressed by God's Spirit within the individual, is part of the gift of salvation [11]. Through Christ, those who believe are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God [9].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 116:13 (NASB) — I shall lift up the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the LORD.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Call of God, The — By Christ -- Isa 55:5; Ro 1:6. By his Spirit -- Re 22:17. By his works -- Ps 19:2,3; Ro 1:20. By his ministers -- Jer 35:15; 2Co 5:20. By his gospel -- 2Th 2:14. Is from darkness -- 1Pe 2:9. Addressed to all -- Isa 45:22; Mt 20:16. Most reject -- Pr 1:24; Mt 20:16. Effectual to saints -- Ps 110:3; Ac 2:47; 13:48; 1Co 1:24. To man is Of grace. -- Ga 1:15; 2Ti 1:9. According to the purpose of God. -- Ro 8:28; 9:11,23,24. High. -- Php 3:14. Holy. -- 1Ti 1:9. Heavenly. -- Heb 3:1. To fellowship with Christ. -- 1Co 1:9. To holiness. -- 1Th 4:7. To liber”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Salvation — Is of God -- Ps 3:8; 37:39; Jer 3:23. Is of the purpose of God -- 2Ti 1:9. Is of the appointment of God -- 1Th 5:9. God is willing to give -- 1Ti 2:4. Is by Christ -- Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23. Is by Christ alone -- Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12. Announced after the fall -- Ge 3:15. Of Israel, predicted -- Isa 35:4; 45:17; Zec 9:16; Ro 11:26. Of the Gentiles, predicted -- Isa 45:22; 49:6; 52:10. Revealed in the gospel -- Eph 1:13; 2Ti 1:10. Came to the Gentiles through the fall of the Jews -- Ro 11:11. Christ The Captain of. -- Heb 2:10. The Author of. -- Heb 5:9”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hoshaiah — the salvation of the Lord”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Isaiah — the salvation of the Lord”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
- Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name the Lord,.... This testimony is taken out of Joe 2:32 and is brought to prove the truth of what the apostle had just suggested, that all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, will find him rich and plenteous in mercy, and ready to dispense his grace and salvation to them: such shall be saved; be they who they will, whether Jews or Gentiles; not with a temporal salvation only, but with a spiritual and eternal one; for the words of the prophet refer to Gospel times, as the context shows, and is cited and applied ther”
- Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 2:32: call on . . . name of . . . Lord--Hebrew, JEHOVAH. Applied to Jesus in Rom 10:13 (compare Act 9:14; Co1 1:2). Therefore, Jesus is JEHOVAH; and the phrase means, "Call on Messiah in His divine attributes." shall be delivered--as the Christians were, just before Jerusalem's destruction, by retiring to Pella, warned by the Saviour (Mat 24:16); a type of the spiritual deliverance of all believers, and of the last deliverance of the elect "remnant" of Israel from the final assault of Antichrist. "In Zion and Jerusalem" the Saviour first appeared; and there ”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:32: 2:32 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved: Calling on the name of God should not be a final act of desperation; it accompanies a lifelong commitment of worship, service, and fellowship with the Lord (see Gen 12:8; Ps 105:1; Isa 12:4; Rom 10:13; 12:1-2). • Those whom the Lord has called are his chosen remnant, the survivors of judgment who worship him (see 2 Kgs 19:31; Ezra 9:8-15; Isa 10:20-22).”