July Hymn of the Month :: Just As I Am

Just as I am
By: Charlotte Elliott 1836

Charlotte Elliott wrote nearly 150 hymns, yet none of these hymns have had a more profound impact on the lives of so many people. In fact, after her death, there was found more than 1,000 letters from people all over the world, sharing with Charlotte just how much this hymn had meant to them. The hymn meant a great deal to her as well.

Charlotte had a carefree life when she was younger, and had gained notoriety among the English for the humorous poetry that she had been writing. At the age of 30 however, things changed dramatically. Within a short period of time, Charlotte had become an invalid, completely bed ridden, and dependant upon her family for care. Under these circumstances, and the sharp contrast from the previous years of her life, she became greatly depressed. In 1822, an evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan, visited the Elliot household. He spent some time with Charlotte, and counseled her concerning her depression, and spiritual state, and during his visit, he told her: “You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. “ It was during this visit, that God used Dr. Malan to proclaim the truth of the gospel to her, and lead her to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Even though 14 years had passed, these words were never too far from Charlotte’s mind. It was 1836 and the ministry opportunity arose for her brother, Rev. H.V. Elliot, to raise money for, and build St. Mary’s Hall at Brighton, a school built to provide high quality education for the children of humble clergymen, that Charlotte was taken by a feeling of despondency. She wanted so badly to be a part of the ministry and was overwhelmed by feelings of uselessness, and fruitlessness. It was during this time when she remembered the words of her dear friend, and she penned the words to this beloved hymn.

This hymn to me is a very special collection of answers to the many thoughts and feelings I have struggled with personally as a believer. I too, like the thousands who wrote Charlotte letters, have deeply been touched by the words of this timeless song, and yet, continually, am strengthened, and grow, as I meditate on the Biblical truths this song continues to teach us.

I would like to examine a few of these verses, and share with you, the scriptural truths behind the lines of the hymn, and the overwhelming confidence we can have in our salvation, which is wrought, not by our deeds, but by the completed work of our savior.

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me
and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

There are three powerful truths in the midst of this verse that I would like to focus on, the first being our helplessness, and utter inability to do anything to win over the affections, and forgiveness of God.

We come to Him naked, in fact, the truth is much worse; we come clothed in filthy rags, stained by the filth of our own sins and selfishness. In this state, God cannot even bear to look at us, so to even come to God, our first realization is to acknowledge that we are spiritually bankrupt. Hopeless, helpless, sinful and impure. This is something the Scriptures continually teach us, they teach us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), they teach us that the wages of these sins are death (Romans 6:23). So first in coming to God, we have no plea to make for ourselves. There is no deal we can make, no offer that we can put on the table. Scripture goes so far as to say that we are the enemies of God and by nature children of wrath (c.f. Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:3). This is the truth on which our salvation must be built.

Immediately following this truth is the answer. It is not something within ourselves, not even in the slightest. It is in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, by His perfect sinless life, by His blood and sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave that He alone accomplished on our behalf. He alone accomplished salvation, bringing it to us. Apart from His work, there is no salvation. It is not on anything that we have done that we plead for God’s mercy, but instead, we are viewed with the very righteousness of Jesus Christ, because He took the punishment and shame for every sin, that every true believer in Christ would every commit (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Finally we see the truth that He bids us to come to Him. Not only are we helpless to please God on our own, even more so, we are helpless to seek after God on our own (c.f. Romans 3:11). I can think of no work that one could do that would be more pleasing to God than to willingly set aside their sinfulness and deny themselves for the cross of Christ, but scripture makes it clear that no one can come to Christ unless he is drawn by God the Father (c.f. John 6:44; 65).

When these three truths are brought together, it is very encouraging. If God has chosen us for salvation, who could possibly overturn His will? If Christ has paid our penalty, and taken our wrath, then what have we to fear? And though we are sinners, if we realize, that by faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ, that we are never more justified before God than at this very moment, we can have assurance that even though we struggle, even though we sin, even when our walk with Christ slows to a crawl, our confidence is in what God is doing, and accomplishing in us, and we can be confident, that if He drew us to Christ, that He will be faithful to complete the Good work that He has started (c.f. Philippians 1:6).

The fifth stanza of this hymn, though frequently unsung is equally assuring to the Children of God.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!


God has promised to receive us, Jesus tells us in John 6:37 that all who the Father gives to Him will come, and He will by no means ever cast them out. He loves us with an undying ever-faithful love in spite of our wickedness. And when God sends us running toward the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, sends us running to Jesus fully aware of our shameful state, and the answer that He alone can provide, it is then that we fall into His grace, repentant, and justified by a Holy God, who took the initiative on our behalf, because He knows our frame, and remembers that we are merely dust (Psalm 103:8-14)

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Him whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, though tossed about,
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, poor, wretched blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea Thine alone
O Lamb of God, I come, I come