As I’m preparing to go to a nursing home today and do a Church service for the residents there, I feel to preach on the words of the old Hymn, “Just As I Am”. We are all familiar with this one because of Billy Graham, he had this sung at the conclusion of every one of his great crusades.
The words are so powerful, short and to the point of the Gospel message. Gospel means “Good News”. We are to go out and preach the Good News! Jesus saves, heals and delivers! Now, THAT is good news!!
Just as I am, without one plea…the definition of plea is: a formal statement by or on behalf of a prisoner, stating guilt or innocence in response to a charge.
You know the Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God and the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So we’re ALL declared guilty, we have ALL sinned and we are in need of a Savior, a Redeemer. And His Name is Jesus Christ. He shed His life’s blood for the removal of your sins. You come to Him Just like you are, admit that you have sinned, and ask Him to forgive you.
Before you take a shower you don’t stand at the sink and wash up do you? No, you get in the shower just like you are, with All the dirt on you, and you come out completely clean.
We can’t ‘work’ our way to God. The Bible says in Ephesians 2 that “salvation does not come through our works so nobody can boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving. Nothing we did could ever earn His salvation, for it was the gracious Gift from God that brought us to Christ!”
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”
“And that thou bid’st me Come to Thee…” Jesus said in John 6:44 “No man can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day.” So you can’t even come to Him unless He draws you, so when you feel something inside tugging at your heart, that is God drawing you. He gives Everyone a chance to come to Him. The Bible says that “God is patient, not willing that Any should perish but All should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
“To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot” The blood that Jesus shed removes all our sins as far as the east is from the west, He throws our sins into the sea of forgetfulness when He forgives us and washes us clean! The Bible says without the shedding of blood there can be no removal of sin. God loves you so much that He gave His life for You, He shed His life’s Blood for You on Calvary’s cross! Hebrews 9:22 says (Amplified Translation) In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].
“Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve” When you call on the Name of Jesus with a heart of true repentance, asking Him to forgive you, and that you want Him to save you, He will. The Bible says in Romans 10:13 “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord Shall be saved.” He will welcome you, He will pardon you (all of your sins forgiven), He will cleanse you (the blood of Jesus washes away your sins) and He will relieve you (free you from guilt).
When the thief on the cross said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom”,,,Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise!”
“Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come,,,,”
Linda Weber – Sole Purpose Ministries