The phrase “Come as you are” is often used in Christian circles to express that God accepts people just as they are, without requiring them to “clean themselves up” before approaching Him. He’s waiting on you before we think that we can get ourselves together. So, while this exact phrase doesn’t appear in the Bible, the concept is deeply biblical.
There is no Bible translation—including the KJV, NIV, ESV, or any others translation—that contains the exact phrase “come as you are.” That wording is not found verbatim in any official Bible version.
However, there are some key scriptures that reflect the heart of “Come as you are”:
Like Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This is a direct invitation from Jesus to all who are weary and burdened—He doesn’t require perfection first, instead he requires confession.
Because if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Isaiah 1:18 says:
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…”
The Lord invites people to come even in their sinful state, to come as you are, promising us forgiveness and transformation.
Revelation 22:17 says:
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
This is a call to all who are thirsty for life, without prerequisites.
In other words don’t worry about what people have to say about you just come.
It doesn’t matter what you have on. Just come.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any money to put in the offering. Just come.
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Romans 5:8 says:
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God loved and acted on our behalf before we ever changed—He met us where we were, so that he could bring us up to where he is.
So while “Come as you are” is not a direct Bible verse, it’s a faithful summary of God’s gracious invitation to all people, no matter your condition.
It doesn’t matter who your hairdresser might be. Just come.
It doesn’t matter if you have on a wig,
a toupee,
quick weave,
sew in,
extensions,
cornroll,
Lace Front,
Full Lace,
360 Lace,
Twist-Out,
Finger Waves,
It doesn’t matter if it’s fried, died, or laid to the side. It does not matter if you just put it up in a bun, just come.
Because we have to get to the point where we tell people, leave me alone, because I didn’t come here to see you, I came to see Jesus.
Because if we listen to people, it will set us back, set us off, and make us not want to see Jesus for ourselves
You see the idea behind “come as you are” is strongly reflected in several verses, especially those where Jesus invites people to come to Him regardless of their spiritual condition.
He not looking to see if you got on Gucci, or Louis Vuitton, he just wanna know if your heart is right. Because everybody can’t afford clothing like you can. Some of us have to fake it till we make it.
Jesus invites people to come to Him regardless of their spiritual condition.
In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says- Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
It sounds like “come as you are.”
Isaiah 55:1 “Isaiah 23:1 says- Ho, the word Ho here is translated (Is anyone thirsty?). It says Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
This verse expresses God’s open invitation, regardless of your condition or ability to “pay.”
So, when people be talking about well pastor I didn’t come to church because I didn’t have any money. There are a lot of days when I came to church and didn’t have any money. But I came anyway.
And when I came, I was able to get a word from the Lord to know that, even though I might not have anything in my pocket right now, the Lord is able to provide.
I didn’t have any money, but I learned that the Lord will make a way out of no way.
So, the Bible cuts that excuse out. It sounds like, come as you are.
It’s a solid biblical concept—but you just won’t find those exact words in any translation.
But here is a man that got a holt of the concept, and ran with it.
The Bible says “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’”
There are moments in our lives when we know we need to get closer to God—but we feel too ashamed, too broken, too confused, or too out of place to come openly.
But I came to tell someone this morning: Jesus is not intimidated by your darkness, your doubts, or your reputation. He simply is saying, “Come as you are.”
This Nicodemus Came in the Dark—but he was walking towards the light. It was at night, but He still came.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee—a ruler of the Jews, a respected man. Yet he came to Jesus at night.
• He didn’t want to be seen.
• He had questions but he wasn’t ready to go public.
• He came with doubt, confusion, and fear—but he still came.
Here is the application: You don’t need to have it all together to come to Jesus. Come in the night. Come with your questions. Come with your baggage, because Jesus welcomes the real you.
The second Point is: Jesus Met Him Where He Was—But He Didn’t Leave Him There
When Nicodemus came, Jesus didn’t rebuke him. He didn’t shame him. But He spoke life and truth:
In the 3rd verse Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
In other words Jesus saw beyond the robe of the Pharisee. He saw a man searching for meaning, hungry for more.
He introduces him to the new birth, not religion, but relationship.
Here is the Application: Jesus meets you right where you are—but He also loves you too much to leave you there. He draws us out of religion and into transformation.
Point 3: The Gospel is for the Whosoever Will
This encounter leads to one of the most quoted verses in the Bible:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16
Nicodemus came with fear—but Jesus offered him freedom.
He came in secret—but Jesus offered him salvation.
He came in confusion—but Jesus offered him clarity.
Application: The gospel is not for the perfect, but for the willing. You don’t have to fix yourself first. Just come. Come dirty, come broken, come confused—just come.
Here it is: The change began when he came—just as he was. When Nicodemus came, he came just as he was, weary, wounded and sad.
So today, the invitation is the same:
Come as you are.
Come with your doubts, and he will soothe your doubts.
Come in your night season. And he will show you the light.
Come with your heart open. And he will fill your hearts.
And when people try to make you feel bad just tell them, I didn’t come to you I came to see Jesus.
You can tell them Casual and Bold: “I’m not here for your approval—I came to meet Jesus, not you.”
You can tell them Graceful and Firm by saying:“Please understand, I didn’t come to talk to you—I came to have an encounter with the Lord.”
You can tell them with Confident and Direct by saying: “You don’t have to understand my journey. I didn’t come for you—I came see Jesus.”
Or you can tell them Calm and Unapologetic: “You don’t have to get it, and you don’t have to understand.
You don’t have to know why I shout like do, praise like I do, or even cry like I do.
Because you don’t know what he has done for me, you don’t know how he has sent me free, you never understand my Praise. Because my worship, my worship is for real.
In fact, I didn’t show up for people—I came to be with Jesus.”
Why did I come you might ask? I came because he died for me and then he got up on that third day morning and declared all power is in my hand.
