Just As I Am

Charlotte Elliott · 1835 · tune WOODWORTH
Key of G · public domain

Words

Verse 1Just 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

Verse 2Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Verse 3Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt
Fightings within and fears without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Verse 4Just as I am, Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
Because Thy promise I believe
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

The story

Charlotte Elliott was an invalid for most of her adult life and hated being useless. In 1834, while the rest of the household was out working at a fundraising bazaar for a school she could not help with, she lay in bed feeling like dead weight and wrote this instead. It was printed on a leaflet and sold for the same school; her brother, a clergyman, said afterwards that he had seen more fruit from his sister's single hymn than from all his own years of ministry. It is the hymn Billy Graham used at the close of nearly every crusade for sixty years, which means a good part of the twentieth-century church walked forward to a poem written by a woman who could not get out of bed.

Chords in G

Verse 1 G C G D Just as I am, without one plea G C D G But that Thy blood was shed for me G C G D And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee G C D G O Lamb of God, I come, I come Verse 2 G C G D Just as I am, and waiting not G C D G To rid my soul of one dark blot G C G D To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot G C D G O Lamb of God, I come, I come Verse 3 G C G D Just as I am, though tossed about G C D G With many a conflict, many a doubt G C G D Fightings within and fears without G C D G O Lamb of God, I come, I come Verse 4 G C G D Just as I am, Thou wilt receive G C D G Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve G C G D Because Thy promise I believe G C D G O Lamb of God, I come, I come

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Common questions

Who wrote Just As I Am? Charlotte Elliott wrote the words in 1835.

What tune is it sung to? WOODWORTH, set here in the key of G.

What scripture is it built on? John 6:37.

Is Just As I Am free to use in church? Yes. The words are public domain, which means any church may sing them, print them in a bulletin, put them on a screen or record them, without asking permission and without paying anyone.

Themes

Invitation · Repentance · Assurance

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