Last week my husband and I was discussing a phrase many Christians throughout the world have heard which is the phrase, come as you are. I wanted to see what God’s Word had to say about this subject and was surprised to learn this exact phrase isn’t actually in the Bible. While it isn’t found in the Bible there are scriptures which are similar, such as;

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28,29

Although this particular scripture isn’t the exact wording, come as you are, it does offer similarities along with additional information. In this scripture Jesus is giving an invitation to sinners to come to Him, just as they are. But here’s where many churches go wrong, they tell the people to come as they are, to say a short repentance prayer, and now they’re saved. But that’s not what the rest of the scripture says.

Because in this scripture Jesus says we are to learn from Him. In other words, we are to emulate Christ, to do as He did, to follow His ways. This scripture also eludes to the person that is weary, tired, crushed, desperate, sad, weighed down, or broken. Which is another way of saying someone who is experiencing actual sorrow over their sin.

So, if one doesn’t feel this type of sorrow over their sin, if they don’t seek to learn from Him, to follow Him, then a self-evaluation is in order. Because those who “truly” belong to Christ are changed.

This means that anyone who belongs
to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17

What this all means is if you’re a believer, a Christian, then you seek to follow the teachings of Jesus, to learn His ways and to live by them. It also means you no longer live a life that is self seeking because your old way of life is gone. You’ve been given a new Spirit and a new heart.

While the “Come as you are” phrase is biblical, what many pastors, teachers, evangelist, and churches fail to tell people is, you can’t stay as you are!