An important concern in the religious world is what a person must do to be saved. Saul asked the Lord what he must do on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:6), and the Philippian jailer asked Paul the same question (Acts 16:30). Often, the text of Romans 10:13 (“whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”) is used to answer this question.

Romans 10:13 is indeed a scripture that rightly states what action is to be taken in order to be saved. It might be asked however, “What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord?” Some believe it means to pray to God, and use Romans 10:9 (“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”) to show what should be included in the prayer. However, there is not an account in scripture of someone being saved by simply saying a prayer. There must be an awareness of all scripture to discover the plan of salvation. Mark 16:16 says,“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” The sentence structure of this passage is often ignored, making baptism unnecessary. The full text must be read and taken into consideration. Baptism and belief are two ingredients to salvation that cannot be separated. Without one, the other is useless.

What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord? The phrase “calls on” in Romans 10:13 comes from the Greek word “epikaleomai”, meaning appeal. In order to be saved there must be an appeal to the Lord. This means that any requisites given by the Lord must be carried out. A Christian is to obey the commandments of the Lord. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). To call on the name of the Lord is to obey His commands. It is not specific to one action. “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord” (Zephaniah 3:9). Calling on the name of the Lord means submitting to the Lord and serving Him in obedience.

Regarding the question – “What must I do to be saved?” – consider the text of Acts 22. Paul is re-telling the account of his conversion. Ananias was sent by the Lord to Paul to tell him what he must do. Ananias, in Acts 22:16, tells Paul what he must do. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  Notice the phrase at the end of the text, “calling on the name of the Lord.” What was Paul to do in order to obey God’s commands and to call on the name of the Lord? He was to “arise and be baptized!”

What must I do to be saved? If, like Paul, you are a penitent believer in Jesus Christ the answer is simple, “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” However, baptism is not the end of the journey. Do not “continue in sin that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1). A child of God is not exempt from the dangers of sin and can still die in sin.  “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:12-13). A child of God is to turn away from the past life that was filled with sinful acts and live a new life, a faithful life. In order to obtain the crown that is promised, a faithful life must be lived. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”  (Revelation 2:10).