The word of God is full of references to this puzzling phrase: 'call upon the name of the Lord'. It shows up in both the Old and New Testament. We first encounter the phrase after the birth of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam (Genesis 4:26). We also see there is eternal significance to bearing the name of the Lord in the final book of the bible when 144,000 people redeemed by God have the name of the Son and the Father on their forehead (Revelation 14:1). On the contrary, those who were damned cursed the name of the Lord (Revelation 16:9, 11, 21), and had the mark of the beast on their forehead (Revelation 14:9-10).
In many instances, this phrase refers to praise and thanksgiving; Abram called upon the Lord's name after his offspring was promised a land (Genesis 12:7-8), and again when he was rich (Genesis 13:4), or he signed a treaty (Genesis 21:33). Isaac did the same when the Lord promised to bless and multiply his offspring (Genesis 26:25). Other times the response is simply to sing praises (Psalm 105:1-4).
It can also be used when we cry out to God in prayer. Crying out to him and trusting him for our help. Samson called upon the name of the Lord to deliver him from the Philistines (Judges 15:18). David called upon the name of the Lord that the angel of God would not harm the people on account of David's sin (1 Chronicles 21:26). Samuel called upon the name of the Lord to witness against Israel of their wickedness in asking for a king (1 Samuel 12:17-18). Elijah called on the name of the Lord to prove he is the true God of Israel (1 Kings 18:24). Isaiah called to the Lord as a sign Hezekiah would be healed (2 Kings 20:11).
Perhaps no section of the Bible covers this phrase more extensively than the book of Psalms. It is littered with examples of how, when, and why we call on his name.
We call out to God when we pray to him (Psalm 88:1-2, 88:13, 141:1-2), God hears and answers us when we call upon his name (Psalm 17:6, 86:5), whether we want to praise him (Psalm 18:3), or we are in distress (Psalm 18:6). But the most important reason we call on the Lord is for salvation.
We can see this call for salvation repeated throughout Psalm 116: Calling out to God is not a single moment, but something to be done all the days of our life (Psalm 116:2). We pray God delivers our soul (Psalm 116:4). The Lord saved them and they lifted up cup of salvation (Psalm 116:13), which culminates in praise and thanksgiving and again calling on the lord (Psalm 116:17). We too lift up the cup of our salvation, Jesus Christ, and call upon the name of the Lord all the days of our life through prayer, praise, worship, and thanksgiving.
What happens to those who don't call on the name of the Lord?
God also reveals to us through his holy scriptures that some people will call but he will not listen (Proverbs 1:28, Hosea 11:7), others do not call on his name (Psalm 14:4, 53:4, 79:6), and there are yet others who curse or revile his name (Psalm 74:18). In all three scenarios the people are described as wicked, evildoers, and their path is destined for destruction.
The book of Revelation further contrasts the two categories of people:
the damned who worshipped the beast and had its name on their forehead (Revelation 14:9, 14:11)
the redeemed who have the name of the Father and Son on their forehead (Revelation 14:1-5, 14:13).
The imagery throughout scripture is clear: those who turn to the Lord in repentance and thanksgiving will drink the cup of salvation (Psalm 116:13), the others will drink the cup of his wrath (Revelation 14:10).
While it is scary to think how God will make wicked people drink every last bit of his wrath, there exists a sacrifice offered freely for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2). All who believe Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again—receiving him thankfully as one who is blessed—will have his name written on their forehead and be saved from the coming judgement (John 1:12, Romans 10:6-13). To God be the glory, for his judgment is just and by his grace and mercy he saves us from our sins.
Is water baptism the moment we call upon the name of the Lord?
While all these amazing truths give cause to rejoice, a small number of disciples sadly misunderstand these verses. In particular, they misunderstand how it relates to baptism.
This group believes that baptism is the definitive moment we call upon the Lord and therefore a requirement for salvation. This teaching does not align with scripture. Allow me to steer you around this errant view by guiding you through the steps we agree with this minority group, and then make clear where they diverge and why it is wrong.
We all agree Jesus is given the name above all names that every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9-11) and that it is his name we must call upon for salvation (Romans 10:13). However, the confusion comes through the conversion of the Apostle Paul.
Saul witnessed and approved the murder of Stephen (Acts 7:58, 8:1), ravaged the church (Acts 8:3), and persecuted all who called upon the name of Jesus (Acts 9:14, 21). God, whose ways we cannot fathom, visited Saul amidst this persecution (Acts 9:4-5). Ananais was sent to baptise him and immediately he begun to preach Jesus Christ the Son of God (Acts 9:20). In his own words, Paul was one untimely born and not worthy to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church (1 Corinthians 15:9).
Up to this point, we have full agreement with people who hold this minority view that baptism is the moment Christians call upon the name of the Lord. However, here is where agreement ends and we diverge down two paths. Paul, while recounting his testimony, shares that he was baptised, washed of his sins, calling upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Therefore, they conclude baptism is the moment we call upon the Lord, and consequently believe it is a requirement for salvation. The majority consensus is that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
Contrary to what they teach there are many moments we call upon the name of the Lord (Psalm 86: 3, Psalm 116:2, Job 27:10); it is not a single moment of baptism. God works to his achieve his glory, and he ultimately desires that we offer thanksgiving for our salvation (Psalm 50:8-9, 13-15, 22-23). Therefore it is through faith that Jesus is Lord and died for our sins we offer up thanksgiving.
He is the true vine sat at the right hand of God (Psalm 80:3-4, 7, 14, 17-19). He is the one who was faithful and holds fast to the Father to delivers us (Psalm 91:3, 4, 14). His his name alone is holy (Luke 1:49), and He is the one the prophet Joel wrote "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13). Therefore, when Paul writes: "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved" we can safely conclude faith in Christ is the means by which we are saved.
But I wish to offer a credible alternative to their argument. How else could we understand what Paul meant in his testimony? Immediately after his conversion, Paul preached Jesus is the Son of God. He did so in the synagogues (Acts 9:20) and the crowd were amazed. They were amazed because he was the one who had persecuted others 'calling upon this name' (Acts 9:21). Therefore, having been beaten and arrested for visiting the synagogue to preach Jesus, it is most likely Paul is recounting his conversion exactly as it is recorded by Luke:
He was visited by Ananias (Acts 9:17, 22:12),
He regained his sight (Acts 9:18, 22:13),
He was baptised and washed of sins (Acts 9:18, 22:16),
and from that day onwards he called on Jesus as Lord and preached it in the synagogues (Acts 9:20, 22:16)
This account makes sense of the immediate literary context; Paul is speaking while detained by the Jews who wanted to prevent him preaching Jesus. Therefore, he tells the story of how he changed from persecuting Jesus to calling upon him. It is also backed by scripture where calling upon the Lord always meant prayer, thanksgiving, and trusting in God for salvation. Calling upon the Lord preceded baptism by thousands of years and I believe it makes sense of the passage.
In summary, water baptism is one of many moments we call upon the Lord, but it is neither the first nor last. It is by grace through faith you are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9) and it is by faith in Jesus Christ that the righteous are saved (Romans 1:16-17). By faith both Jews and Gentiles receive the promise of Abraham (Galatians 3:14). This all agrees with Christ, who speaking of himself, taught: "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26).
References to calling upon the Lord
Below is a complete list of references to calling upon the name of the Lord. It does not include every possible reference, such as prayer, thanksgiving, and worship. It only includes explicit references of calling out to God.
An exception has been made for the book of Revelation. The author clearly alludes to the eternal consequence of those who called upon the name of the Lord and those who curse his name and forms a vital part of a proper biblical understanding.
In total there are 158 references across 30 books. The main terms in Hebrew are qara, zaaq, and tsaaq; they are generally translated as cry or call to the Lord. Whereas the primary term in Greek is epikaleó.
And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
Genesis 4:10 ESV
To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 4:26 ESV
From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 12:8 ESV
to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 13:4 ESV
Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry [to God] against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,
Genesis 18:20 ESV
I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
Genesis 18:21 ESV
For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.
Genesis 19:13 ESV
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
Genesis 21:33 ESV
So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.
Genesis 26:25 ESV
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
Exodus 3:7 ESV
And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Exodus 3:9 ESV
So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh.
Exodus 8:12 ESV
When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.
Exodus 14:10 ESV
The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.
Exodus 14:15 ESV
And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them,
Exodus 15:25 ESV
So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
Exodus 17:4 ESV
If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry
Exodus 22:23 ESV
for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Exodus 22:27 ESV
And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.”
Numbers 12:13 ESV
And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.
Numbers 20:16 ESV
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
Deuteronomy 4:7 ESV
Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin.
Deuteronmy 15:9 ESV
You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.
Deuteronomy 24:14 ESV
Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.
Deuteronomy 26:7 ESV
And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time.
Joshua 24:7 ESV
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
Judges 3:9 ESV
Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
Judges 3:15 ESV
Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.
Judges 4:3 ESV
And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.
Judges 6:6 ESV
When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites
Judges 6:7 ESV
And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.”
Judges 10:10 ESV
The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
Judges 10:12 ESV
And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”
Judges 15:18 ESV
And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 7:8 ESV
So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
1 Samuel 7:9 ESV
And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.
1 Samuel 8:18 ESV
When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.
1 Samuel 12:8 ESV
And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’
1 Samuel 12:10 ESV
Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.
1 Samuel 12:17 ESV
So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:18 ESV
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
1 Samuel 15:11 ESV
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:4 ESV
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.
2 Samuel 22:7 ESV
For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.
2 Samuel 22:50 ESV
Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day,
1 Kings 8:28 ESV
And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God. And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”
1 Kings 18:24 ESV
And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.
1 Kings 21:20 ESV
And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.
1 Kings 21:23 ESV
And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out.
1 Kings 22:32 ESV
And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
2 Kings 2:12 ESV
But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.
2 Kings 5:11 ESV
And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.
2 Kings 20:11 ESV
And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.
1 Chronicles 5:20 ESV
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:8 ESV
And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.
1 Chronicles 21:26 ESV
Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you,
2 Chronicles 6:19 ESV
And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets.
2 Chronicles 13:14 ESV
And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”
2 Chronicles 14:11 ESV
As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God drew them away from him.
2 Chronicles 18:31 ESV
‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’
2 Chronicles 20:9 ESV
Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.
2 Chronicles 32:20 ESV
On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.
Nehemiah 9:4 ESV
Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.
Nehemiah 9:27 ESV
But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.
Nehemiah 9:28 ESV
Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out [to God]; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
Job 35:9 ESV
There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.
Job 35:12 ESV
And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Job 1:5 ESV
Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
Job 27:9 ESV
Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?
Job 27:10 ESV
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted
Job 34:28 ESV
Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
Job 38:41 ESV
Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
Psalm 5:2 ESV
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he [God] does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Psalm 9:12 ESV
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?
Psalm 14:14 ESV
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
Psalm 17:1 ESV
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.
Psalm 17:6 ESV
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:3 ESV
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
Psalm 18:6 ESV
To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Psalm 22:5 ESV
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
Psalm 30:2 ESV
To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
Psalm 30:8 ESV
O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.
Psalm 31:17 ESV
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17 ESV
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1 ESV
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
Psalm 50:15 ESV
Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
Psalm 53:4 ESV
But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.
Psalm 55:16 ESV
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.
Psalm 77:1 ESV
Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!
Psalm 79:6 ESV
Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!
Psalm 80:18 ESV
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
Psalm 86:3 ESV
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Psalm 86:5 ESV
In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
Psalm 86:7 ESV
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
Psalm 88:1 ESV
my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you.
Psalm 88:9 ESV
But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Psalm 88:13 ESV
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
Psalm 91:15 ESV
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them.
Psalm 99:6 ESV
Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!
Psalm 102:1 ESV
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
Psalm 105:1 ESV
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
Psalm 107:6 ESV
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
Psalm 107:13 ESV
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
Psalm 107:19 ESV
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
Psalm 107:28 ESV
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:2 ESV
Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
Psalm 116:4 ESV
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord
Psalm 116:13 ESV
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:17 ESV
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Psalm 118:5 ESV
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8 ESV
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
Psalm 130:1 ESV
O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Psalm 141:1 ESV
With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
Psalm 142:1 ESV
I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Psalm 142:5 ESV
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18 ESV
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Proverbs 1:28 ESV
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.
Isaiah 12:4 ESV
It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.
Isaiah 19:20 ESV
Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O Lord;
Isaiah 26:17 ESV
I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.
Isaiah 41:25 ESV
behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit.
Isaiah 65:14 ESV
Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name, for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.
Jeremiah 10:25 ESV
Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.
Jeremiah 11:11 ESV
Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.
Jeremiah 11:14 ESV
Go up to Lebanon, and cry out [to God], and lift up your voice in Bashan; cry out [to God] from Abarim, for all your lovers are destroyed.
Jeremiah 22:20 ESV
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
Jeremiah 29:12 ESV
Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you.
Jeremiah 30:15 ESV
Thus says the Lord: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.
Jeremiah 47:2 ESV
Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials.
Jeremiah 49:3 ESV
Their heart cried to the Lord. O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite!
Lamentations 2:18 ESV
though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer;
Lamentations 3:8 ESV
I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit;
Lamentations 3:55 ESV
You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’
Lamentations 3:57 ESV
They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.
Hosea 7:14 ESV
To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.”
Hosea 8:2 ESV
My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.
Hosea 11:7 ESV
Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
Joel 1:14 ESV
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
Joel 2:32 ESV
Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.
Micah 3:4 ESV
For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
Zephaniah 3:9 ESV
And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’
Zechariah 13:9 ESV
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:21 ESV
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Acts 7:51 ESV
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name [Jesus Christ].
Acts 9:14 ESV
And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name [Jesus Christ]? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Acts 9:21 ESV
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
Acts 22:16 ESV
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord [Jesus Christ] from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22 ESV
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile
1 Peter 1:17 ESV
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Romans 10:12 ESV
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 ESV
How then will they call on him [Jesus Christ] in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Romans 10:14 ESV
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1 ESV
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.
Revelation 14:11 ESV
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Revelation 14:13 ESV
They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
Revelation 16:9 ESV
and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
Revelation 16:11 ESV
And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Revelation 16:21 ESV
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