One of the most beautiful truths in the Bible is that God accepts us exactly as we are. We don't need to clean up our lives or become better people before we come to Him. Jesus invites everyone to come—no matter what we've done, where we've been, or what we're struggling with right now. These verses remind us that God's love comes first, and He welcomes us with open arms.
Jesus Invites Everyone
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus makes it clear that His invitation is for everyone. He doesn't wait for people to fix themselves. He meets them right where they are.
"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
Jesus says "Come to me" when you're tired and carrying heavy burdens. He doesn't say "get your life together first, then come." Notice the word "all"—this invitation is for everyone. Jesus knows that life is hard and that we all need rest. He offers it freely to anyone who will come to Him.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
— Revelation 3:20
This verse shows that Jesus is waiting for us to let Him in. He's knocking on the door of our hearts. We just need to open it. He doesn't say the house needs to be clean first. He wants to come in now, just as things are. In Bible times, eating with someone was a sign of friendship and acceptance. Jesus wants that kind of close relationship with us.
"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."
— Revelation 22:17
This verse repeats the word "come" three times because God really wants us to understand this invitation is open. If you're thirsty—if you need something more in your life—you can come. The gift is free. You don't have to earn it or deserve it. You just have to take it.
God's Love Comes First
The Bible teaches us something amazing: God loved us first. His love isn't something we earn by being good. It's what brings us to Him in the first place.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
— Romans 5:8
This verse is powerful because of the word "while." Jesus didn't wait for us to stop sinning. He died for us while we were still sinners. God's love comes before we do anything to deserve it. This is the heart of the gospel—God loves us as we are, not as we should be.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
— 1 John 4:10
We don't start the relationship with God by loving Him first. He starts it by loving us. This takes the pressure off. We don't have to work up enough love or faith before coming to God. He's already taken the first step toward us.
The Difference Between Acceptance and Approval
When we say God accepts us as we are, that doesn't mean He approves of everything we do. These are two different things. A parent might accept their child even when the child makes bad choices. The parent's love doesn't change, but they still want better for their child.
In the same way, God accepts us completely as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us that way. He invites us to come as we are so He can help us become who we were meant to be.
No One Is Too Far Gone
Sometimes people think they've done too much wrong or gone too far from God. But the Bible shows us story after story of people who thought they were beyond hope, and God welcomed them anyway.
"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
— John 3:16-17
Notice that God loved "the world"—not just good people or religious people. The word "whoever" means anyone. Jesus didn't come to condemn us for our mistakes. He came to save us. When we feel like we've failed too much to come to God, this verse reminds us that's exactly why Jesus came.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
— 1 John 1:9
This verse makes a simple promise: if we're honest with God about our sins, He will forgive us. The word "all" is important. There's no sin too big for God's forgiveness. We don't have to fix ourselves first. We just need to come honestly and ask.
The Prodigal Son
Jesus told a story that perfectly shows what "come as you are" looks like in real life. A young man took his inheritance, left home, and wasted everything on wild living. When he hit rock bottom, he decided to go back home.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
— Luke 15:20
The son was dirty, probably smelled bad, and was coming home in shame. But his father didn't wait for him to clean up first. The father ran to meet him while he was "still a long way off." The son didn't even get to finish his apology before his father welcomed him with hugs and kisses. This is how God feels when we turn back to Him.
Jesus and "Sinners"
The religious leaders in Jesus's time criticized Him because He spent time with people they thought were too sinful. But Jesus made it clear who He came for.
"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
— Mark 2:17
Jesus compares Himself to a doctor. Doctors don't avoid sick people—they help them! In the same way, Jesus doesn't avoid sinners. He came specifically for people who know they need help. If you feel like you're too much of a mess to come to God, you're actually exactly the kind of person Jesus came for.
"Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'"
— Luke 7:48-50
This woman had a bad reputation in her town. But she came to Jesus anyway, and He forgave her. He didn't lecture her or make her prove she was sorry. He simply said "go in peace." Notice that He tells her faith saved her—not her good behavior or her perfect life.
What Stops Us From Coming?
If God's invitation is so open, why don't more people come? Usually it's not because God won't accept us. It's because we think we need to be different first.
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
— 2 Peter 3:9
God is patient. He waits for us. He doesn't want anyone to miss out on His love. Sometimes we think God is waiting for us to get our act together. But really, He's just patiently waiting for us to realize we're welcome as we are.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
— Psalm 51:17
God doesn't want our perfection. He wants our honesty. A broken spirit means we're real with God about our struggles. A contrite heart means we're sorry for the wrong we've done. God never turns away someone who comes to Him like this.
Shame Versus Guilt
Shame tells us "I am bad." Guilt tells us "I did something bad." The Bible wants us to feel healthy guilt when we sin—that's what leads us to ask for forgiveness. But shame tries to keep us away from God by making us feel unworthy of His love.
The enemy of our souls uses shame to keep us from coming to God. But God uses guilt to bring us back. When you feel shame, remember that God already knows everything about you and still loves you. That's the whole point of coming as you are.
Practical Steps to Come to God
Understanding that God accepts us as we are is one thing. But how do we actually "come" to Him? Here are some practical ways:
- Just talk to Him: You don't need fancy words or special prayers. Tell God what's on your mind. Be honest about where you are and what you're struggling with. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you.
- Don't wait to be perfect: If you're waiting until you stop sinning or until you feel worthy, you'll never come. Come now, with all your mess and problems. God will help you grow once you're with Him.
- Accept that you're accepted: This might be the hardest part. Stop arguing with God about whether you're good enough. If He says you're welcome, believe Him. Trust His love more than your feelings.
- Bring your whole self: Don't try to hide parts of your life from God. Bring your doubts, your anger, your questions, your pain. God wants all of you, not just the pretty parts.
- Remember it's a relationship: Coming to God isn't about following rules perfectly. It's about building a relationship with someone who loves you. Relationships grow when we're real with each other.
What Happens After We Come?
Coming to God as we are is just the beginning. Once we're with Him, He begins a transformation in our lives. But this change happens because of His love, not to earn His love.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
When we come to Christ, something new begins. We don't have to make ourselves new before coming. God does the transforming work in us after we come to Him. It's His job to change us, not ours.
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
— Philippians 1:6
God promises to finish what He starts. When you come to Him as you are, He doesn't leave you that way. He begins working in your life and He promises to keep working until you're complete. You don't have to worry about finishing the job—that's God's responsibility.
Conclusion
The message of "come as you are" is one of the most freeing truths in all of Scripture. God doesn't sit in heaven waiting for us to become good enough. He runs toward us like the father in the story of the prodigal son. He invites us to His table. He knocks on the door of our hearts and waits for us to let Him in.
Your past doesn't disqualify you. Your current struggles don't make you unworthy. Your doubts and questions don't make you unwelcome. God knows everything about you—every mistake, every failure, every secret thing you're ashamed of—and He still says "come."
The beautiful thing is that while God accepts us as we are, He loves us too much to leave us that way. When we come to Him, He begins a work of healing, restoration, and transformation in our lives. But this change happens in the safety of His acceptance, not as a requirement to earn it.
So wherever you are today—whatever you've done, whatever you're going through—know that you can come. You don't need to wait. You don't need to clean up your life first. Come as you are. God is waiting with open arms.