O Come To The Altar

Questions come first: "Are you hurting and broken within? Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?" Each is answered with the same line, "Jesus is calling." The second verse widens the invitation to anyone who has reached "the end of yourself" and thirsts for "a drink from the well," then to those carrying regrets who are told to come today because "there's no reason to wait."

The chorus carries the weight: "The Father's arms are open wide," and forgiveness "was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ." It repeats again and again, which gives the invitation a sense of persistence, while a short bridge turns from welcome to praise with "Oh what a Savior," "Christ is risen" and "For He is Lord of all." A quiet "Thank You, Jesus" ends it as a thank-offering for the blood already shed.

The Father with open arms recalls the welcome of Luke 15, trading sorrows for joy and ashes for new life echoes Isaiah 61, and redemption through His blood is the language of Ephesians 1:7. Songs of this kind are often sung at the close of a service, when the invitation to respond becomes literal.