Where Does Jesus Say- Come As You Are In The Bible?
This post is all about a phrase that you hear often in the Christian faith, ‘come as you are. Where does Jesus say- Come as you are in the Bible?
I grew up in church, and we had to wear ‘church clothes'. If people showed up not the way the ‘church members' of that church believed they should look, then, to be honest, from my observations, they were not welcomed. It was not a place that a homeless person or an addict would wander into, and if they did, they probably would not be welcome with open arms. It was a place of people of appearances. The churchgoers all looked good on the outside.
As an adult, I attend a church that welcomes everyone. The door even says, Come as you are. It is a church that shows the love of Jesus and wants to be a place for the lost and the broken, not a gathering of people of appearances.
I am sure there are still churches out there today that, if you are not part of that church or a ‘church member', the members do not believe that you are as good as them. They believe they are better than you because they are a ‘member.'
If you have had an experience like this, I am so sorry. I can not imagine how it breaks the Lord's heart. Please do not let broken people affect how you view Christ. Jesus offers unconditional love when you go to Him, and it is an open invitation to all, no matter how messy your life is.
The Word of God is filled with God's love, His character, who He is, His promises, forgiveness, and to show humanity that God is love.
John 3:16 (NIV), “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The Lord did not stop there; He tells us why He came.
John 3:17 (NIV), “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16 is one of the most popular Bible Verses. I think it would be fair to say that believers and non-believers recognize that it is in the Bible.
After you go to Him, broken, a sinner, and invite Jesus into your heart, you will be transformed from the inside out. You will experience the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV), “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
The question is, does Jesus actually say, come as you are in the Bible?
I invite you to spend some time with me, and let's look at what God's word says about come as you are in the Bible.
John 6:37 (NIV), “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
Isaiah 1:18 (NLT), “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Romans 5:8 (NIV), “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Revelation 22:17 (NIV), “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
James 2:1-26 (ESV), “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Luke 19:10 (ESV), “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 5:32 (ESV), “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Romans 3:23 (NIV), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
John 14:6 (NIV), “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Joel 2:32 (ESV), “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.”
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV), “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Mark 10:14 (NIV), “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
The Bible is filled with countless scriptures that invite everyone to open their hearts to Jesus Christ and receive the gift of eternal life.
As Jesus went about his daily ministry, what did his actions teach us about come as you are in the Bible?
Let's start off with the disciples. Jesus did not choose the ones who had the polished, perfect, upstanding life. It was ordinary men from all walks of life who became witnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus said come ‘follow me' to a tax collector.
A tax collector was looked down upon and considered untrustworthy in those days.
Matthew 9:9-11 (NIV), “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Matthew 16:24 (NIV), “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Jesus met the woman at the well.
She was broken, a woman who did not value herself, and others did not value her because of her lifestyle with men. Jesus talks with her and offers her salvation.
John 4:10 (NIV), “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
The woman at the well accepted Jesus into her heart and became a testimony to others. Her past did not matter to Jesus. He wanted her to come, broken just as she was.
Jesus continued to teach us as He hung on the cross with two thieves.
When Jesus was crucified on the cross, he was hung next to two thieves. Jesus continues to teach so we can better understand that it is not works that give you eternal life, but by faith.
The word of God makes it clear to all humanity that it is never too late to ask Jesus into your heart.
You do not earn your way; Jesus paid the price with His blood and made the way for you.
He wants you to come as you are, no matter what your past looks like.
Luke 23:39-43 (NIV), “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus, who lived a blameless life, shed His blood for our sins to finish what He came to earth to do. Make a way for us to have eternal life.
One thief made fun of Jesus, telling him if he was Christ, then to save himself. While the other thief understood that Jesus was Christ and believed with his heart. He asks Jesus to remember him. Jesus responds with ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.'
John 19:30 (NIV), “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Jesus bridged the gap and made a way for you and me to God the Father.
As the thief on the cross shows us, it is not by works that you are saved, but by God's grace and faith in Jesus; it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV), “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
So, come as you are, but you must believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, a Holy God that shed His blood on the cross for your sins and rose from the grave. This is the beginning of your new life in Christ.
Jesus taught not just by His actions, but by parables or stories about ‘come as you are in the Bible.'
There are some examples in Luke Chapter 15. I encourage you to read the entire chapter. Here is one of the parables Jesus taught.
Jesus teaches about the parable of the lost sheep.
Luke 15:1-3 (ESV), “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:
Luke 15:4-6 (ESV), “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Luke 15: 7 (ESV), “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
If you notice, Jesus does not devalue or disrespect the sinners, the broken, the lost, or the people who are struggling. He wants you to come as you are.
In Luke Chapter 15, Jesus continues to teach about the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the prodigal son,
Does Jesus say, Come as you are in the Bible?
The exact phrase or verse ‘come as you are' is not found, but there are many Bible verses in which Jesus extends an open invitation to all of humanity to come as you are.
Jesus Christ came to earth to save the broken and the lost. God's word, over and over, tells us that He wants your heart. You do not need to have your life all together. Come to Him, broken, messy, just as you are. But that does not mean you are to stay as you are.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV), “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV), “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
As you walk daily with the Lord, you will have evidence in your daily living that you are a true believer in Christ Jesus.
The fruit of the Spirit will be signs of evidence.
Galatians 5:22-24 (NIV), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Even though the exact words, ‘Come as you are', are not found in the Bible, the meaning of that phrase is throughout scripture, and there is evidence that God's invitation is open to you, just as you are.
You are to come as you are, but after you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are called to leave your old things behind and begin a new life in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Maybe you are someone who has never believed in Jesus before, or maybe you are a person who says, yes I am a Christian because of the culture you were raised in, but you have not truly asked Jesus to change your life and take residence in your heart.
If this is you, it does not matter what your past mistakes have been. I invite you to ask Jesus into your life as your personal Savior and experience God's grace.
I pray that these Bible verses have given you a better understanding of God, who He is, and a powerful reminder that God's acceptance of you is unconditional. He wants you to ‘come as you are' to Him today. He is waiting for you with open arms.
God's presence will change you. I have seen it personally in my life.
A Salvation Prayer I invite you to make your own.
You simply need to believe, have faith, and ask Him into your heart with a simple prayer.
Lord, I know I am a sinner. I ask for your forgiveness today. I believe you came to earth, lived a blameless life, and were crucified on the cross and paid for my sins. I believe that three days later, you conquered death and rose from the grave. I believe that when you ascended to heaven, you left the gift of the Holy Spirit that I invite into my heart to live with me. You are now seated in heaven at the right hand of God. Thank you for loving me. I want to have a personal relationship with you. Lord, please fill me up with the Holy Spirit. Watch over me and guide me in my new walk with you. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. Thank you for shedding your blood on the cross for me. Thank you for being my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen.
If you just accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I am celebrating with you!
Welcome to the family!
Please visit my Grow Your Faith page, where you will find free resources to help you take the next steps in your Christian walk with Christ.
It would be a privilege to pray for you as you begin your new walk with the Lord.
Prayer requests are accepted on my Rooted In Prayer page. We have a team that will be praying for you.
Recommended posts that you may find helpful.
Why Prayer Is Important- Life Is Hard, But God Is Good.
Why Is It Often Said, ‘Have Faith'- What Is Faith?
A powerful worship song for you is Come As You Are by Crowder.
This post was all about ‘come as you are' in the Bible. Even though there is no specific verse that says come as you are, it is clear that Jesus has an open invitation to you to come just as you are. Jesus came to save the sinners, the broken, and the lost. The sins of humanity were paid for on the cross by the blood of Jesus for you. God's unconditional love is waiting for you today.
‘FAITH CRUSHES FEAR BY BELIEVING AND KEEPING YOUR EYES ON THE HOPE AND LOVE OF JESUS.'
‘FAITH CRUSHES FEAR BECAUSE HOPE IS ETERNAL AND LOVE NEVER FAILS.'
