Salvation
“Come as you are.”
You’ve probably heard this popular expression multiple times. I know I have, but only recently did the remarkable implications of these four words start to hit me. What made it finally click was understanding the depravity of my sinful nature, and realizing that no matter how much I did, it would never be enough to please God or appease His anger in and of itself (Romans 3:23.) Recognizing my dependency on Jesus for salvation allowed me to joyfully come before God without first attempting to get my life together. In other words, it allowed me to come as I was (Romans 5:8.)
The huge burden weighing on my shoulders immediately vanished when I surrendered my life to Christ. I no longer had to strive, I just had to be. It was the most important decision I ever made, and it dramatically alters the way I live. I don’t do good things to try and earn salvation. I do them out of reciprocation for the incredible sacrifice Jesus already made for me.
God sincerely wants to do the same thing in your life. He doesn’t want your past to stop you from changing the future, a future filled with hope and joy. Jesus came to this earth and gave up His life so that we may have a way to live with God forever. 1 John 4:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We need to recognize our sins. They’re numerous and they keep us from having a relationship with God. However, Jesus is our mediator. By dying on the cross, He clothed us in His righteousness. His sacrifice enables us to boldly come before God, openly confess our sins, and confidently receive God’s forgiveness, not because of what we do, but because of what Christ did (Psalms 103:10-12 and Ephesians 3:12.)
Sanctification
The story doesn’t end there, however. Now that we’re new creations in Christ, it makes no sense to continue living for our old, sinful flesh (2 Corinthians 5:17.) Come as you are, yes, but don’t stay as you are. 2 Corinthians 5:15 is one of my favorite verses because it perfectly explains what our response to Jesus’ death should be. It says, “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
I’m not going to lie, when I first heard this verse, I found it a little ambiguous. I mean, what does living for Christ practically look like on a day-to-day basis? Here’s an overarching answer: In order to live for Christ, we must walk in accordance with His Word by surrendering ourselves wholeheartedly to Him. You definitely can make this application more personal, though, and I strongly encourage you to do so. I’ve been working on this by laying my life before God and allowing Him to illuminate areas where I’m more susceptible to fall into sin (Psalm 139:23-24.) We’re entirely dependent on God for our sanctification, and He is the only one who can give us the inclination to follow Him. Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases him.” So ultimately, we’re sanctified solely because of God’s abundant grace, which works through us as we submit to His will.
Encouragement
We’re not alone in this battle against sin. There are millions of believers across the world who are undergoing the same tribulations as we are. We need to talk to them and confess our struggles to them. Prayer is more powerful than we know (James 5:16.) Another encouraging thing to remember is that when Jesus came to earth, He experienced the same temptations as us. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus understands what we’re going through because He went through it, too.
So come as you are, eager and ready for God to work through you.