Name dropping is not unusual today. Most people do it to impress or when they are looking for a favor.

It also is not unusual that people mention God’s Name – oftentimes in vain. As a preacher, I know that some people even mention God’s Name in a religious way to try and impress me.

While people like to think that they know God, the real question is: “Does God really know you?” The above verse is preceded by showing what will happen when people try to impress God by their good works when they stand before Him at the judgment. Those verses state their claim as to why they think they should be allowed into Heaven:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Mt. 7:22).

It is obvious from these verses that doing religious works, or good works – no matter how great – will not get you into the Kingdom or into Heaven. This means that you will not get into Heaven even if you preach the Bible or do miracles. The single issue Jesus was pointing out is that you must really know Him and He must know you.

It will not matter who your relatives are, what Christian denomination you are in, if you have been baptized, are a faithful church member or church officer. All that matters is: does the Son of God know you? It is not the same thing as does He know about you? We all know about some people that we do not personally know at all. There are many “religious” people sitting in our church pews across the land that Jesus does not know.

Those who truly know God and that God knows are changed individuals. There was a date and a time when they became one of God’s children. They have been “born again“ and their life shows it. If the life is not right, it is questionable that that person ever met God. In Matthew 7:20, Jesus said: “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

My friend, if you are not sure right now that God knows you, do not waste another minute to make sure. Paul was once asked: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” To this question, he gave the following answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30,31).

I invite you to learn more about how you can be sure. Do not guess any longer. Follow the links above to be sure you really have your sins forgiven and are on your way to Heaven.

Jesus made the above statement to a very religious man named Nicodemus. This man was one of the leaders of a religious group in Israel called the Pharisees.

The Pharisees were well-known as being very zealous in keeping the laws of Moses. Most likely, this man even memorized the five books of Moses in the Bible and tried to keep them.

But when this man came to Jesus that night, Jesus immediately brushed aside this man’s deeds and character – and got right to the point: Nicodemus, you must be born again to go to Heaven!

Nicodemus understood the importance of being “born again,” but he did not know how. It was something that seemed impossible for an old man. He never heard of such a thing.

What Jesus was saying shocked him. His words implied that works – even religious ones – had nothing to do with salvation. It did not matter what someone did or had become in the way of righteousness or unrighteousness. No one can go to Heaven without being “born again.”

When explaining what He meant, Jesus later said that only the Holy Spirit can produce the new birth. Flesh and blood are incapable of bringing it about.

When a sinner calls on God in faith to save him or her based on what Christ did on the cross to pay for our sins, the Holy Spirit produces the new birth in the individual. It is He alone that creates the new birth. And when He does, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). God changes the life.

Have you turned from sin and called on the Lord to save you? Remember what Jesus said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Why not do it today?

Even in a world that is not a friend to Christ – or to Christians – victory is still possible. In fact, there is no sin that a believer cannot get victory over.

One reason that many believers do not see victory is that they do not want it bad enough. They want to hold on to it because their flesh loves it. If you will hate the sin, you can get victory over it. The Lord Jesus has promised it in His Word.

According to the above verse, victory is available to you on two conditions. First, you must be a born-again (“born of God”) believer in Christ. He must have saved you. This occurred after you confessed your need of Him to become your Savior.

The second condition is that you need to have faith that He can and will give you the victory. This will be true in any circumstance. He loves to help His children when they call on Him for victory and want to do His will.

When you face temptation, remember that He is just a prayer away and wants to answer prayer. The believer that wants to serve Christ will get the victory needed if they are trusting in the Lord.

Do you need help with some temptation today? Have you asked Him for victory and are you willing to do His will? Deliverance may just be waiting for you to call on Him today. Be sure to thank Him for the victory when you get it.