Lyrics
Verse 1
Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling
Verse 2
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling
Chorus
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Verse 3
Leave behind your
Regrets and mistakes
Come today there's no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Verse 4
Bring your sorrows
And trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling
Chorus
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Bridge
Oh what a Savior
Isn't He wonderful
Sing hallelujah Christ is risen
Bridge
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah Christ is risen
Bridge
Oh what a Savior
Isn't He wonderful
Sing hallelujah Christ is risen
Bridge
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah Christ is risen
Chorus
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus
Chorus
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Chorus
The Father's arms
Are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Outro
Bear your cross
As you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you found
Original Version
This page covers a cover recording of the song. See the original: O Come To The Altar by Elevation Worship lyrics.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The Worship Initiative page presents the song in a stanza-by-stanza layout, with each verse broken into short parts and the bridge written as alternating pairs of lines. The pattern is easy to follow: brokenness and sin are named, Jesus is calling, and the altar chorus then offers the Father's open arms and the cost of forgiveness.
The bridge calls for bowing down before the risen Savior, a gesture that matches the call to worship in Philippians 2:9-11. The line about trading sorrows for joy, with new life rising from the ashes, lines up with Isaiah 61:3, while the thirst imagery has a close parallel in Isaiah 55:1, where the thirsty are invited to come. The chorus appears several times near the end, which gives this arrangement a long, repetitive close built for congregational singing.
Related Scripture
- Isaiah 55:1 The thirsty are invited to come to the waters.
- Philippians 2:9-11 Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.