Miss Charlotte Elliott was visiting some friends in the West End of London, and there met the eminent minister, César Malan. While seated at supper, the minister said he hoped that she was a Christian. She took offense at this, and replied that she would rather not discuss that question. Dr. Malan said that he was sorry if had offended her, that he always liked to speak a word for his Master, and that he hoped that the young lady would some day become a worker for Christ. When they met again at the home of a mutual friend, three weeks later, Miss Elliott told the minister that ever since he had spoken to her she had been trying to find her Saviour, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ. “Just come to him as you are,” Dr. Malan said. This she did, and went away rejoicing. Shortly afterward she wrote this hymn. (Credit: cyberhymnal.org)
Charlotte Elliot’s classic is one of the most well-known and beloved hymns among God’s children. The experience in this hymn is one which every Christian needs to go through at some point – the realization that God doesn’t want us to be perfect. He calls us to Himself and keeps us to Himself just as we are.
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to be a “good person” or even a “good Christian.” At some point, however, we realize that even though we may be saved and have God’s life in us, we are utter failures. This isn’t reason for discouragement, though. Remember, he who has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47). The more we fail, the more opportunities there are for God to show His love, grace and mercy to us. The more we experience these things, the more Christ grows in us. The more Christ grows in us, the less we have to try and exhibit holiness – Christ Himself will be lived out and expressed!
As in every solid, foundational hymn, this one is deeply rooted in the word of God. Every line of Just As I Am is pregnant with meaning from the Bible. I broke it down just that way:
Just as I am, without one plea
“And these things (covetous, drunkards, revilers, rapacious) were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” -1 Corinthians 6:11
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
“Knowing that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ. -1 Peter 1:18-19
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
“Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace.” -2 Timothy 1:9
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
“…Behold, the Lamb of God!” –John 1:36; see also 1 Pet. 1:19
“Coming to Him, a living stone, rejected by men but with God chosen and precious.” – 1 Peter 2:4
“Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.” –Hebrews 4:16
Just as I am, and waiting not
“And now, why do you delay? Rise up and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” –Acts 22:16
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
(see Acts 22:19; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Pet 1:18-19)
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin.” -1 John 1:7
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
(see previous)
Just as I am, though tossed about
“That we may be no longer little children tossed by waves and carried about…” –Ephesians 4:14
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
“…He who doubts is like the surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about.” –James 1:6
Fightings and fears within, without,
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery bringing you into fear again, but you have received a spirit of sonship in which we cry, Abba, Father!” –Romans 8:15
“Since therefore the children have shared in blood and flesh, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the devil, And might release those who because of the fear of death through all their life were held in slavery.” –Hebrews 2:14-15
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
“Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” –Revelation 3:17; see also 1 Corinthians 6:11
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
“The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; and the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel announced to them.” – Matthew 11:5
“The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” –Ephesians 1:18
(Hymn – Oh, the Riches of My Savior http://www.witness-lee-hymns.org/hymns/H0542.html)
“And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.” –Romans 12:2
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
“Which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body is of Christ.” –Colossians 2:17
-Footnote from RcV- “Christ is the reality of the gospel. All the good things in the gospel belong to Him and are Him. This book (Colossians) unveils such an all-inclusive Christ as the focus of God’s economy.”
(See also Exodus ch. 13; Deuteronomy 8: 7-10 for Old Testament types of Christ – the reality of the Good Land and everything we need.)
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
“Therefore receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of God” – Rom. 15:7
“And when Jesus heard this, He said to them, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” –Mark 2:17
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
“And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Child, your sins are forgiven.” –Mark 2:5
“And behold, a leper, coming near, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You can cleanse me.” –Matthew 8:2
“Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30
Because Thy promise I believe,
“Therefore the inheritance is out of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise may be certain to all the seed, not to that which is of the law only, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” –Romans 4:16
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” –Galatians 3:6; see Genesis 15:6
“Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust. -2 Peter 1:4
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
“He who does not love has not known God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8
“Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. Because of this the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. -1 John 3:1
Hath broken every barrier down;
“But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” -2 Corinthians 3:16
“For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity.” –Ephesians 2:14
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
“And I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” –John 10:28-29
“For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” -2 Corinthians 11:2
(Hymn – I am the Lord’s http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/433)
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Trivia note: Billy Graham famously used this hymn during the altar calls of his gospel crusades. He himself was led to the Lord through this hymn in 1934; the effect it had on him can be seen in the title of his autobiography:
Just As I Am.
Let Him Sing Praise! 