“And it will have been that everyone who calls on the name of Yăhwēh will be delivered, because in mount Tsi̱yyōn and in Yerūshalai̱m there will be deliverance as that Yăhwēh has said, and among the survivors which Yăhwēh will have called” (Joel 2:32).
Then he said, “I will make all my goodness pass by, over your face, and I will have called in the name of Yăhwēh before your face, and I will have been gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have shown mercy to whom I will show mercy” (Exodus 33:19).
Then Yăhwēh passed by over his face. Then he called, “Yăhwēh, Yăhwēh Gŏd merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and faithfulness, keeeping loving-kindness to a thousand generations, bearing iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and acquitting he will not acquit, attending the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons, and upon the sons of the sons, upon the third generation, and upon the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6-7).
The phrase “to a thousand generations” first appears in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:6): “And doing loving-kindness to a thousand generations, to those loving me, and to the keepers of my commandments.”
The phrase “bearing iniquity” appears in Isaiah 53:12, “Therefore, I will cause him to be apportioned among the many, and with the numerous he will apportion the spoil
To call on the name of Yăhwēh means that we must know what his name is. His name is not a mere label. Label’s can be corrupted. Labels can be misdefined, so that what is advertised is not what is delivered. One who uses a label that misrepresents or is misdefined is using the label in vain. One who takes the name of A̓dōnai without knowing what his name really means or believing it in the heart is taking his name in vain.
Yăhwēh’s name is the same as his reputation. We say that someone has a good name, then this means he has a good reputation, and we should know something about that reputation. The verses just quoted explain what Yăhwēh’s reputation is. This can be explained in a few sentences: the faithful and merciful Almĭghty is gracious to those loving him and keeping his commandments, he punishes sin, and will not acquit the guilty, but he does bear sin of the many loving him and being faithful to him. To call on the name of A̓dōnai Yăhwēh means to acknowledge this and to live by it.
Paul explains: For with the heart one is trustingly faithful leading to righteousness, and with the mouth agrees resulting in salvation. For the scripture is saying, “Everyone making his support upon him will not be ashamed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Adŏnai is Adŏnai of all, abounding in riches to all who call on him; because “All who shall call upon the name of Yăhwēh will be saved.” How then can they call on him in whom they have not pledged trusting faithfulness? And how can they pledge trusting faithfulness in whom they have not heard? And how will they listen without someone announcing? How will they announce unless they are sent? Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! However, they did not all listen to the good news; for Isaiah says, Yăhwēh, who has pledged trusting faithfulness according to our message? So trusting faithfulness comes from listening, and listening by the word of Mĕssiah.” (Rom. 10:10-17).
The gospel preached by Paul is the same good news announced by Yăhwēh in his calling Yăhwēh’s name to Mōshēh. But it is not a lawless gospel. To acknowledge the name of Yăhwēh means to confess that he punishes inquity and shows mercy to a thousand generations of those loving him and keeping his commandments. If one is faithful from the heart, then though we stumble he forgives. If one lives in inquity assuming that Gŏd will forgive him while he lives in sin, then he does not know the name of Yăhwēh, and calls not on his name. If he calls, it is in vain, because he is presuming that his name means something that it does not mean.
You have heard it said that Gŏd’s love is unconditional. This my friend is a lie. He has a reputation for punishing iniquity to the third and forth generation, and loving to a thousand generations those loving him and keeping his commandments. I tell you the truth, if you love not Gŏd, then he will not love you. If you decide on a course of unfaithfulness, idolatry and rebellion, then he will not be faithful to you. If you repent and return, then he will keep his covenant with you, and his great mercy will be extended.
Do not be deceived. Many Churches are deceiving their flocks that one can expect grace in the midst of mortal sin. John writes, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4).
The Churches have redefined the name of Gŏd so as to allow the inquitious to be deceived that they are receiving His favor and love. That is the mystery of iniquity. Indeed, Paul and John preached a good news of the Almĭghty’s covenant faithfulness to those who would receive him with a faithful commmitment. “For the Almĭghty so loved the world, that he gave his only special Sŏn, that everyone trustingly faithful to him shall not be destroyed, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But the Churches have redefined faith to mean belief, and belief to mean believe only, and believe only to mean that it does not matter what you do, and that Gŏd will save them regardless. Many will say to him in that day “A̓dōnai, A̓dōnai,” but Yēshūa̒ will say to them, “Depart from me you who are woking lawlessness” (Mat. 7:23).
Do they not know that “faith” is fidelity and faithfulness? Do they not know that “believing” is faithful trusting, and casting one’s support onto Messiah? As it is written, “And he had been trustingly faithful in Yăhwēh; therefore, He was considering it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). I refer you here for a full explanation of this text.
Yes, too many think that the Yēshūa̒ of the good news I teach is a hard master. Therefore, they have buried their fidelity. But rest assured that He is gracious and merciful to those who give him their fidelity. So says the Word of Yăhwēh, and so means His Name.