I couldn’t post this when it happened, because his grandparents hadn’t been told yet (and they read my blog sometimes, and I didn’t want to give it away before he had a chance to tell them himself!). Then other things intervened the last couple of days. But I suppose it is never too late to sing this song, so here it is.
Dwight Moody used to speak of an adult conversion as half a conversion, because half the life has been lived without Christ, while a child conversion is a full conversion, because the full life can be lived for the Lord.
The theology behind that idea is quite flawed, not least because any new birth in Christ is eternal, and this life should never be given that kind of preeminence in our thinking. I’ve seen souls trust Christ right at the end of their earthly life, and those salvations are of no less value to our Lord than any other. They are loved just as fully, and will serve Him for all eternity.
But still, there is something special about a child’s conversion, is there not? Jesus spoke of child-like faith, and there is something especially thrilling about a child saying he has trusted the Lord to take his sins away and forgive him, that he is trusting Christ for eternal life.
When you’ve trusted Christ, you can take “mine” out of the chorus and sing it with your own name in its place!
I was a lost sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my Lord:
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His Word.
Chorus:
There’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
And the white robed angels sing the story,
‘A sinner has come home.’
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
With my sins forgiven I am bound for Heaven,
Never more to roam.
I was humbly kneeling at the cross,
Fearing naught but God’s angry frown;
When the heavens opened and I saw
That my name was written down.
In the Book ’tis written, ‘Saved by Grace,’
O the joy that came to my soul!
Now I am forgiven, and I know
By the blood I am made whole.
Words & Music: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946
(I can’t say I love this video, but it is better than the other instrumental ones I could find. It seems it is hard to play this song without exceptional flourishes or an entertainment style? If anyone encounters a video of it that is played in a style that would be conducive to congregational singing, please let me know.)
Mind Renewers 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK_nnMq3_z8 This version is a bit faster than we sing it, and it doesn’t have all the verses, but it’s pretty good.
Thank you, I’ve changed to that one!
I agree. I am reminded of the labourers mentioned in Matt 20:1- 15. Especially verse 15A. Tell me if I am wrong in my interpretation. Yours in Christ.
Hello, Michael. I apologise for the delay in clearing this from moderation, the blog was dormant.
The passage you cite is the parable where Jesus tells of a man who hired people, some for the whole day, others for parts of the day, and paid them all the same. I absolutely do see the relevance to the discussion about the value of salvation whether early in life or late.
I don’t think that is the main point of the parable. Jesus taught this right at the end of his earthly ministry, and part of the point was that it wasn’t too late. Also, just a few verses later we see that there was dissension between the disciples, effectively over who was going to receive greater rewards / honour. I believe this parable was at least partly to correct that, though He had to correct it even more directly.
But I believe it is certainly an appropriate application of the parable to speak of the value God places on a person saved late in life, as well as on a child. The price that Jesus paid is the same, and that’s the real measure of the worth of a soul.