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Part ten (final) of a series. Read part nine.
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Do the words of this hymn speak to you of infinite assurance, or of desperate need?
Many churches sing a hymn quite often that was written in the 19th century by a lady named Charlotte Elliott, titled Just As I Am. In the era of mass evangelism, it is almost exclusively sung as a hymn of invitation for people to receive Christ. But Charlotte Elliott did not write Just As I Am as a hymn of invitation to salvation. She wrote it as a hymn of assurance of salvation.
The words of Just As I Am expressed the struggles of her own heart. Charlotte Elliott was tormented by the thought that perhaps the righteousness of Christ in which she had placed her faith was not enough to take her into glory.
She was comparing herself with others, even in her own family, who she thought were more godly than she was, who she thought were doing more for God than she was, and were more blessed of God than she was.
And so, in effect, she came to focus upon her own merits rather than the merits of Christ alone. But when, as she searched the Scriptures, she realized what foolishness this was, she wrote this great and beloved hymn - not as a hymn of invitation, but as a hymn of assurance:
Just as I am, without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me,
and that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.
How does this hymn speak to your heart? Does it speak to you as a word of the greatest comfort, because you are putting your faith in Christ alone for your eternal salvation? Does it speak to your heart of the fact that you have, as Jesus put it in Luke 12:28 and Matthew 5:25, settled out of court with your adversary while you are on your way to the Last Judgment, on the basis of the righteousness of Christ alone? Does it speak to you of assurance of your standing at the judgment seat of Christ on the right hand of the Lamb, among those who will enter the eternal kingdom prepared for them from before the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34)?
Or, do its words speak to you as a warning? Do they speak to you as the prayer that you must pray, to agree with your adversary on the way to judgment, to confess your sins, to see your sins as God sees them, and trust in the blood of Christ to cleanse you from all unrighteousness forever?
Consider well these questions, dear reader. Consider carefully your standing before God.
I urge you: Bow before Him now as a believer, in thanksgiving for what He has done for you - or bow before Him now as a sinner still under condemnation, in repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth...Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10)
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:1-8)
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1-2)
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