"Being Born Again" vs. "Giving Life to Jesus"

(This is a quote from a correspondence with a friend on facebook)

"...you got saved at 5? How did that happen? How could you even comprehend it all? You must have been lucky with very religious parents or what? ANd you said you gave your life to Jesus at a different time. What is the difference? Well, I can see the difference, but I wonder, is it not the saved at 5 that guarantees you heaven or is it the giving your life to Christ at 15 that gets you in to heaven? It also says that you cannot get into heaven unless you are born again in John 3? What are the differences between the 3?"

According to my dad, I was the most repentant 5 year old he'd ever seen, broken over my sins...as a 5 year old! I guess it's different for various people, but I believe there's an age of accountability where you can begin to understand (partially) that you need God in your life. Afterwards, I talked to my brother, and he came crying to my parents, saying "I don't want to go to the hot place!" He asked Jesus in his life, and he was only 3 years old!

My parents gave their lives to Christ early on, so we grew up in a strong Christian household. In response to your question about the difference between my salvation time and when I gave my life to Christ, I believe that it was asking Christ into my heart at age 5 that guaranteed my salvation.

Here's the thing that I've been thinking about...when we first "give our lives to Christ," I actually believe that it's more accurate to say that we're entering into a "relationship with Christ," and turning our lives toward Him. That's the point where we first believe, and are saved. However, as we get to know Him and His heart, we start to understand what it really means to give our lives completely over to Him - the costs, the rewards - and it's more of a life-long process, because there's always more that God shows us about ourselves and about Him. So, maybe it's more accurate to say that since age 15, I've had the desire to give all of my life completely to Him, as He shows me more things to surrender to Him.

Now, the third part of the question, "what does it mean to be born again? how is it different?" Well, basically that's when you first ask Christ in your life...what I did at age 5. That's when you first decide to enter in relationship with God, and He gives you a new heart and brings your spirit back to life. Before you received Christ, your spirit was dead. Now, you have a new nature! But you're still a baby, because you were just "born...again." You still have to grow, mature, and get to know Jesus...until He not only is your Father and your Master, but He is your Friend. From there, as you grow, He also becomes Your lover (Song of Solomon). There are many more things to discover...all the time, for all eternity, about Him!