Calling on the name of the Lord means a sinner personally crying out to God in faith, believing in Christ's death and resurrection, and asking Him to save.
It is not a ritual phrase but a sincere, audible call for salvation from someone who knows he is hopeless in himself. Romans 10:13 promises that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Les Feldick teaches that God is listening for the sinner's cry and responds the instant He hears it.
Romans 10:13 — The verse directly quoted by Paul that promises salvation to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.
Acts 2:21 — Peter quotes Joel using the same language, but in a different prophetic context, as Les Feldick explains.
Joel 2:32 — The original Old Testament promise that whosoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.
The Bible directly answers this question in Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The surrounding context shows that this calling is tied to believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Verse 10 continues, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The Old Testament prophet Joel spoke the same promise in Joel 2:32: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.” Peter quoted this at Pentecost in Acts 2:21: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The Bible, therefore, consistently connects calling on the Lord with receiving salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that calling on the name of the Lord is a genuine, verbal cry of faith from a person who recognizes his need for salvation. It is not merely repeating a phrase; the person must see himself as hopeless and believe that Christ died and rose again, then ask the Lord to save him. He calls it putting faith into action (Clip 2). Les emphasizes that the person should actually verbalize it—even in private—saying, “Lord, I'm a sinner, save me, because I believe that You've done everything that needs to be done” (Clip 1). Les also points out that the same wording appears in both Acts 2:21 (quoting Joel) and Romans 10:13, but the settings are different. The Acts/Joel passage pertains to Israel under the Old Testament and the coming Kingdom, when the King and Kingdom are a reality (Clip 0). Paul's use in Romans 10 is under grace and opens salvation to the whole world. He illustrates God's response with a lifeguard on a crowded pool who hears the feeble cry of a drowning child and immediately saves him; in the same way, God listens for the sinner's cry and is there the moment he calls (Clips 3 and 5). Finally, Les clarifies that calling on the Lord includes confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord, but this is not “Lordship Salvation.” He explicitly rejects Lordship Salvation because it smacks of works. Instead, when a person enters in by faith, Christ becomes Lord of his life as a result of salvation (Clip 7).
No. Les explains that a person must come to the point of recognizing he is a sinner and hopeless in himself, then call upon Him in faith (Clip 3). He says you don't have to shout it, but you verbally say, “Lord, I'm a sinner, save me, because I believe that You've done everything that needs to be done” (Clip 1). It is faith in action—asking Him to save (Clip 2).
Les points out that Peter quoted Joel's words in Acts 2:21, but Paul uses the same language in Romans 10:13. The difference is the economy. Peter's quotation belongs to the Old Testament prophetic setting where the King and Kingdom are a reality (Clip 0). Paul's use is under grace, showing that in this age the call is open to “whosoever”—even the vilest sinner can call out and be saved. This is a key distinction Les wants readers to see (Clip 0).
Les explains that after Christ finished the work of the cross and rose from the dead, He becomes Lord (Clip 6). The confession is verbal—confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9). However, Les does not agree with Lordship Salvation, which he says smacks of works. Rather, when we enter in by faith and become children of God, Christ becomes Lord of our life as a result (Clip 7).
Peter vs. Paul on Calling on the Lord
Les compares Peter's quotation of Joel in Acts 2:21 with Paul's use of the same language in Romans 10:13, showing they belong to different dispensational settings.
The Verbal Cry of the Sinner
Les explains that calling on the Lord is a verbal cry for salvation — “Lord I'm a sinner, save me” — and that God will save anyone who calls upon Him.
Faith in Action
Les calls Romans 10:13 the faith in action — asking the Lord to save you is the response of faith.
Culmination of Becoming a Believer
Les presents calling on the Lord as the culmination of becoming a believer — first recognizing Christ died for our sin and our own hopelessness, then calling upon Him.
Believing the Resurrection
Les connects believing in the resurrection with the promise of salvation and then drops down to Romans 10:13 as the promise for everyone who calls.
God Hears the Feeble Cry
Using the lifeguard illustration, Les says God is always listening for the feeble cry of a sinner who wants to be saved, and the moment He hears it, He is there.
Verbalizing the Call
Les stresses verbalizing the call — saying out loud, “Lord, I want you to save me” — and emphasizes that the risen Christ becomes Lord of our life.
Confession and Lordship Salvation
Les clarifies that confessing Jesus as Lord is not “Lordship Salvation,” which he rejects as works; rather, Christ becomes Lord of our life as a result of salvation by faith.
Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The key promise that directly answers the question.
Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Shows that calling/confession is tied to belief in the resurrection.
Romans 10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Explains the connection between heart belief and mouth confession.
Romans 10:14: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Shows that faith must precede calling.
Joel 2:32: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
The original Old Testament promise of deliverance for those who call.
Acts 2:21: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter quotes Joel at Pentecost; Les uses this to contrast the dispensations.
Yes, Romans 10:13 promises that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. However, Les teaches that it must be a genuine cry of faith — a person must recognize he is a sinner and believe that Christ died and rose again, then ask the Lord to save him.
Les teaches that God wants us to audibly say it out loud, even though He can read our hearts. He encourages verbalizing, “Lord, I want you to save me,” even in private, because calling on the Lord is a verbal expression of faith.
Les does not agree with Lordship Salvation, which he says smacks of works. Instead, when we enter in by faith and experience the new birth, Christ becomes Lord of our life as a result of salvation — not as a condition for it.
Watch the Teaching: What Peter Really Said at Pentecost — Acts 2 Explained