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.

In John 5:24, Jesus clearly tied His very words to eternal salvation. He said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Jesus repeated this thought in John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” With these words, Jesus testified that His words (and that of the Bible already in existence) must be understood and then believed for salvation. This means that there is no salvation apart from His words.

This makes it very important that anyone that wants to go to Heaven understand the message of the Bible concerning salvation. There is no other source of accurate information that came from God.

Because many people only have a surface knowledge of the Bible, they are unaware that the Bible provides a sure answer for those that want to know the truth about salvation and how to be saved. You really cab be sure that you are on your way to Heaven if you follow the Bible’s clear directions about being saved.

The Bible’s directions to get into God’s family can be completed quickly. You can be saved from He’ll right where you are – whether you are at home, at work, or even while commuting.

The way to be saved for sure comes from the Word of God. The Bible says that all that is needed is to repent (turn from sin in your heart) and believe only on Christ for salvation. Jesus said this in Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.”

The word “repent” implies a confession of wrongdoing to God with an attitude of not wanting to do them anymore. Everyone, including you and me, has broken His commandments, as stated in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

The Gospel that you must believe is defined in I Corinthians 15:3,4: “that Christ died for sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Notice that the “Gospel” that must be believed says nothing about works of any kind for salvation.

Believing the Gospel means that you repent and then ask Jesus Christ – in prayer directly to God – to forgive you and save you. He has already paid the full price for your sin. Now He just wants you to accept His gift of pardon and eternal life. Repenting and believing means that you have turned from sin and self-righteous works to love and serve God as you should.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).