You - Gotta be Ready !

[AJ]

"You - Gotta be Ready ! " - by AJS - November 2007

For over 60 years, I've heard those words of warning.
But...every time I hear a religious Saint declare that....I'm left bewildered and confused.

Generally it's the most rigid and inflexible ones who declare it –
"You - Gotta be Ready....or else! "

1.   'Ready'... for what?
2.   Does the Bible clearly explain what it means to 'be Ready or else' ?
3.   How can I know if I am...'Ready'.
4.   What happens if I am not...'Ready'?
5.   What would result, if I am following the wrong...'Gotta be Ready' system?

It seems to be a mystery that - God only knows – but at the same time, you better figure it out...or else. 
So, if we all.... 'gotta be ready' then...it stands to reason, that we better know what that means.....right?

Okay....I've got a fantastic idea.
Since there are many good folks, who use that silly 'idiom'.... and they each have a different inspirations about what it means....then....why don't all the 'powers that be' from all the headquarters of all denominations get together
and compile a perfect 'Gotta be Ready' list.

Actually, it shouldn't be that difficult.... they could all meet at the WCC (World Counsel of Churches).

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By the way....I do have my own 'gotta be ready' list.

According to the Scriptural facts - as I understand it, the only requirements for anyone, to 'get saved' , 'stay saved' and 'be ready' are:

1. he needs to be LOST – Luke 15:24.
2. he needs to be an ENEMY OF GOD – Rom 5:10.
3. he needs to be CONDEMNED – Rom 5:18.
4. he needs to be DEAD in transgressions and sins – Eph 2:3.
5. that the WILL man is NOT involved – Rom 9:16.
6. that human DECISION is NOT involved – John 1:12.
7. it's not according to any of man's WORKS or DEEDS – 2 Tim 1:9 & Titus 3: 5.
8. that all were MADE sinners, by the first Adam – Rom 5:19.
9. that salvation is IMPOSSIBLE with man alone, therefore it's not a thing of 'chance' – Matt 19:25-27.
10. he needs to FALL SHORT of God's glory – Rom 3:24.
11. he needs to be BOUND by stubbornness – Rom 11:32.
12. that no one is JUST, UNDERSTANDING or SEEKS after God – Rom 3:10, John 6:44 & 65.
13. he needs to be GRATIFYING the cravings of the sinful nature – Eph. 2:3.
14. that UNRIGHTEOUS are we all – Rom 3:12.
15. like sheep going ASTRAY, we all are – Isa 53:6.
16. that we all are an UNCLEAN thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags. –Isa. 64:6.
17. from the disobedience of one man, sin CAME to all – Rom 5:19.
18. that NO ONE can COME to Christ by himself, thus it is not a matter of 'choice' – John 6:44 & John 6:65.
19. that creation was subjected to futility, NOT willingly, but because of HIM who subjected it. – Rom. 8:20.
20. even 'faith' to believe the gospel is NOT from oneself – Eph 2:8.
21. for the lost to have their hearts OPENED by God, so that they may respond to the gospel message – Act 16:14.
22. there is absolutely NOTHING for man to render or accomplish, thereby no one can boast of anything – Eph 2:9.

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Further:
It is my understanding, that all mankind will eventually be saved, when they experience God's wonderful grace and His presence.

Because we are now under the dispensation of GRACE, therefore the "sin debt" for all (everybody) has already been "paid for".
And even at the Great White Throne Judgment - the lost will never be judged for their sin (Rev 21:11,12), their sin too have already been covered.

All my sins and your sins, and everybody's sins were paid for,
even before we were born.
The condition of mankind, saved or unsaved – is that every person is totally incapable of  'Finding Salvation' and 'Being Ready' on their own.


1. All sin has already been judged – by God the Father through the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Cor. 5:19, 1 John 2:2..

2. The purpose of Jesus Christ's coming was to take away the sin of the world. – John 1:29 & 4:42, 2 Cor. 5:15, Heb. 9:26, Rom. 3:24.

3. All peoples will undergo justification of life, by Jesus Christ's life. – Rom. 5:18, Heb. 7:25.

4. Hades (hell) the grave, is just temporary – it will eventually be swallowed up by the lake of fire. – Rev. 20:14.

5. Surely, the 'lake of fire' is a true reality. While the more popular translations of the Bible (KJV, NIV), state that the lake of fire is 'everlasting', yet, there are numerous literal translation (YLT, WEM, ROTH), which emphasize the original language and instead use the word 'age' or 'age of the ages'.
Thus, the LOF has a future duration of time or an 'age', within the many ages of man. – Rev. 20:10 -15, Eph 2:7.

6. The LOF has a beginning and it will have an end. It's purpose – like all of God's judgments, it is to purify mankind and that they all come to the knowledge of the TRUTH. – 1 Tim. 2:4.

7. Everyone will experience the fire of God, because EVERYONE needs to be refined by the Holy fire of God. – Mark 9:49, Zeph 3: 8-9.

8. Future judgments - are reserved for men's 'works' and not their 'sins' – and this applies for both those previously saved on earth and those delivered from hades at the 2nd resurrection. – 1 Cor. 3:12-15, Rev. 20:12-15.

9. Former ENEMIES of God, will be saved by Jesus Christ's life and subjected unto HIM. – Rom 5:10, 1 Cor. 15: 25.

10. There is the future Renewal and Restitution and Restoration and Reconciliation of ALL. – Matt. 18:28, Acts 3:21, Col. 1:20.

11. Because everybody is God's offspring, He has set a day to judge the world, commanding all people to repent, giving
ASSURANCE unto all men, in that He hath raised Christ Jesus from the dead. – Acts 17:29-31.

12. "For the creation (that's all of creation...not just believers) was subjected to futility, NOT willingly, but because of
HIM who subjected it, IN HOPE (HOPE mind you).. that the creation itself also WILL BE SET FREE (no stipulations or regulations) from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the CHILDREN of God." (sounds to me like Father is gonna bring creation...and all of it...to where He has the Saints. Rom 8:20-21.

13. The Good Shepherd seeks the LOST,...until he finds and brings unto his bosom the very last lost one. – Luke 15: 1-31.

14. The abolishing of DEATH, no more sin or death for all. – 1 Cor. 15: 55-56, 2 Tim 1:10.

15. Jesus Christ promises to DRAW (or drag – like pulling in a fishing net) all men to Himself. – John 12:32.

16. Christ makes all things NEW, recreating of life is for all, each in his own order. – 1 Cor. 15: 22, Rev. 21:5.

17. All the works of the devil are destroyed. – 1 John 3: 8.

18. Every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is 'Lord', to the GLORY of God. – Phil. 2: 9-10.

19. Songs of 'praise' is coming from everyone. – Rev. 5: 13.

20. And then....God will be all in everyone. – 1 Cor. 15: 28.


Someday everyone, is going to be WONDERFULLY ASTOUNDED, when we all - finally come to a full and complete realization that God will not fail in any of His glorious accomplishments and goals. No one is beyond hope.

Grace is forgiveness without required acceptance. Therein lies God's glory: bless those who curse you, and forgive your enemies. If grace is deserved or merited, then it is not grace at all according to Paul.

The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. The FREE gift of life, will come upon ALL men and no man will reject it or return it.
It is given to us without deserving it.
It is not offered as a 'choice' or 'chance'.
And it is an irrevocable offer of the gift of life. And at some point in the future, every tongue does confess Jesus Christ as 'Lord' to the Glory of God.

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Conclusion:

The responsibility of salvation  for all mankind – for 'Getting Saved' , 'Staying Saved' and 'Being Ready' - is 1000% up to God and 0% up to man.

Mankind is NOT responsible for any portion of salvation, it's simply God's free gift to mankind, with no strings attached.


Now......I do see in the Scriptures, the involvement of man's:

works, will, decisions, deeds, responsibilities, exercising faith, godly sorrow, repentance, dedicating life, turning from sins, listening to God's voice, personal commitments, having a relationship with God, denying oneself, taking up the cross, following Christ, professing Christ, making choices, praying and fasting, and etc.

All the above 'things' can be occurrences in the believers life after they become saved.....but NONE of these things, gets man initially saved or keeps him saved.

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For those who disagree with me,... that's okay – go ahead and live by your asinine set of rules.


Oh my....I just had a terrible thought.
What if God's ' BE READY ' rules - are different than yours.

Someday you'll die,....you are resurrected,...and you stand before a very angry judge.  The great judge of all the earth.  He is full of wrath and fury.
He scowls at you.  He spits you out of his mouth.

You stand there, horror-struck and aghast at what is happening to you.
He cast you into HELL.....no........He changes His mind, He takes you out of Hell and instead cast you into the Lake of Fire.

You scream in agony, withering in the burning hot cauldron of flames.  You try to plug your ears - because of all the screams of the billions of other that are there with you. 

You cry out – you repent....you know you were saved....what is happening to you....you plead and beg for answers.....for deliverance.


Then God the Father who is really PO/ mad....finally speaks to you:

"I the LORD will have no more to do with you.
I have given up on you because of your failures.
Because you did NOT live by my ' BE READY 'rules.

You are lukewarm,... it just insults me .
So it's totally over and I am finished with you.
You have just LOST - your eternal salvation.

Your world from now on is without form and utterly void of any good.
You'll be engulfed with darkness and blackness.
And that condition is finally and it's irrevocable.

You can wail and weep,.... and you can cry and mourn all you want.
You can pray, and you can repent, but I will not listen to you anymore
and I'll never change my mind about you.

You had your CHANCE, -  and you didn't seek my face hard enough, for me to inform you
about my ' BE READY ' rules.
You can curse me for not knowing this list of rules.....I don't care.  It's now to late.

You are utterly doomed to have no hope and no happiness for the future.
All you can look forward to is eternal separation from Me –
- yes Me, the great God who created you, who loved you, and even once saved you.

But now, I am finished with you -- I will now leave and you will be all alone,...... forever and ever and ever"


All because - you lived by the WRONG set of  ' Gotta Be Ready ' rules.



Peace, AJ.


PS... I dare you to post this at some Fundi boards.
Also, you may modify this study if want to.

[Reverend G]

Be ready....ok.  I think this is much "spin" about nothing.  Few are the churches who would tell their congregations that there is no such need.  Indeed, if there is a need to "get ready", then we are all doomed because we all fall short of Him.  So there goes that plan. 
I'll still work on the concept though, but not to be "ready".  I will try to do as He would have me do, and TRY not to let my own willfulness run my life.  I do this not to be "ready", but because it is good.  It glorifies His name.  And though I will definitely fall short, I know that I am forgiven.  As are those who don't try.  But it is still good to try.