I am Coming to the Cross - Hymn Lyrics

1. I am coming to the cross;
I am poor and weak and blind;
I am counting all but dross;
I shall full salvation find.

Refrain
I am trusting, Lord, in Thee.
O thou Lamb of Calvary;
Humbly at Thy cross I bow.
Save me, Jesus, save me now.

2. Long my heart has sighed for Thee;
Long has evil reigned within;
Jesus sweetly speaks to me:
“I will cleanse you from all sin.” 

3. Here I give my all to Thee:
Friends and time and earthly store;
Soul and body Thine to be,
Wholly Thine forevermore. 

4. Jesus comes! He fills my soul!
Perfected in Him I am;
I am every whit made whole:
Glory, glory to the Lamb!

“I Am Coming to the Cross” is a hymn that centers on the believer’s personal response to the call of Christ. Written by William T. Sleeper in the mid-19th century, this hymn was born out of the personal reflection of someone seeking the Lord's forgiveness and the new life that comes through the cross. Sleeper, a pastor and hymnwriter, was deeply involved in revival meetings and evangelistic work, and his hymns often reflect themes of repentance, surrender, and spiritual renewal.

The opening line, “I am coming to the cross, I am poor, and weak, and blind,” sets the tone for the hymn—a humble acknowledgment of one's spiritual condition. The lyrics echo the heartfelt surrender of a soul burdened with sin, yet hopeful and trusting in the mercy of Christ. The cross is not just a historical event in this hymn, but the living place of transformation, where the individual is met with grace and where the heart finds refuge.

Each verse of the hymn presents a different aspect of coming to Christ: acknowledging personal weakness, surrendering sin, and embracing the grace freely offered. The repeated refrain, “I am coming to the cross,” is not just an admission but a declaration, a personal commitment to find salvation in the sacrifice of Jesus. The hymn calls for a response, asking the listener not only to reflect but to act, to make a conscious decision to draw near to the Savior.

At its heart, “I Am Coming to the Cross” is about transformation through surrender. Sleeper’s words invite the believer to lay down their burdens and come as they are, trusting in the finished work of Christ. It emphasizes the individual’s role in coming to Jesus—not by their own strength but through the grace of God that draws them in. The hymn is a reminder that Christ's invitation to the cross is open to all, regardless of past failures or present weaknesses, and that salvation is found not in works but in a simple, honest coming to the Savior.