By Timothy W. Burnett
By rightly dividing God's word in Acts 2:21, we know that to "call upon the name of the Lord" refers to speaking in tongues. Peter was explaining to the others what they had just seen and heard. By the spirit of God, he taught that they witnessed the beginning of a whole new administration that would end at the "great and notable day of the Lord." Throughout this administration it would be available for anybody to be filled with holy spirit and prophecy by the same holy spirit. Then in verse 21 he revealed that speaking in tongues was the fulfillment of the following words, "And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." This referred to the beginning of a new and coinciding administration known as the grace of God (see Ephesians 3:2). From the context of Acts 2:20, the word "saved" refers to the salvation that is for those who become born-again children of God and are saved from having to suffer through any part of the period that is recorded in the book of Revelations.
Furthermore, we learned that to "call upon the name of the Lord" in the earlier Greek, meant to call out for help. To be saved means to be rescued. This is fantastic information. Not only can we be rescued from having to endure the Tribulation period, but even now, when we are experiencing difficult situations that requires deliverance, we have two ways to pray. One is by our own understanding and the other is by the spirit of God as seen in 1Corinthians 14:14-15. Speaking in tongues is perfect, uncorrupted spiritual prayer.
According to Acts 2:11 speaking in tongues is speaking the "wonderful works of God." From 1Corinthians 12:7-10 we learn that it is one of the nine ways to profit from the manifestation of holy spirit. When we speak in tongues we manifest the true existence of holy spirit in us. We manifest that we have the fullness of the authority of Christ in us which is our hope of glory (See Colossians 1:27). What is that hope of glory? This is the hope of the return of Christ for God's beloved born-again children. On that day, they will meet the Lord in the air, and will live in heaven with him forever (See 1Thessalonians 4:13-18). On that day, all of God's children will be glorified for the world to see and behold. For more details on the rapture see 1Corinthians 15:51-54.
According to 1Corinthians 13:1 when we speak in tongues, we either speak in the developed languages of angels or of people. When we speak in tongues, we "give thanks well," as seen in 1Corinthians 14:17. As seen in the various uses of the earlier Greek word "lambano," when we first begin to speak in tongues, we lay-hold of holy spirit. This word is translated to "receive" in Acts 1:8, 2:38, 8:17 and 19:2. The Epistles are packed with direct and indirect references to speaking in tongues or the results and benefits of speaking in tongues.
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