"I, Gypsy Smith, was born in 1860. From the gypsy wagon, tent, and campfire, I was saved and called out to be an evangelist, with a real burden on my heart for the salvation of souls.
"We gypsies had scriptural names, but there were no Bibles among us. How did we get these names? Did they come to us from tradition? Are we one of the lost tribes? I believe we are akin to the Hebrew race, but no one knows our origin. Our tribes have been traced to India, but it is believed we went to India from somewhere else.
"The text God used to save my soul is found in the gospel of John, chapter 3. It's part of the 7th verse: 'Ye must be born again.' Or you may read it this way, if you like: 'Ye must be born from above.' Or you may read it like this: 'Ye must be born anew.' Or, 'Ye must be born again, from above, anew.' It means becoming a new creature. It means, 'Old things are passed away.' It means that there must be a new creation.
"The first birth is of the 'earth, earthy'; the second is from above, and is of the heavenly. The first birth is of the flesh; the second is of spirit. The first is of the will of man; the second is of the will of God.
"Please do not think for a moment that you have gone beyond the need of the doctrine of the new birth. We are on redemption ground when we talk about the new birth. I am not here to apologize for it; it does not need any apology from me. It is my business to preach it; it is my business to make you hear it. It is my business, whether you like it or not, to drive it into your soul up to the hilt with all the power and emphasis I may possess, and make you face the truth.
"No, I am not here to explain it; it is beyond me; I am here to tell you that you must be born again. And please put the emphasis on the two words `must' and 'again.' When you talk about the new birth in the presence of some people, you are considered old-fashioned. But don't forget... it is His message. This is not a fad or a pet theme of some wild man.
"Jesus said, 'Ye must be born again.' If we realize who said it, we shall treat it reverently. It was Jesus who said this, Jesus the Christ. That is what I want you to see. It was Jesus Christ who came down from the eternal glories to put this message before the heart of sinful man.
"Some of you say, 'Tell me how it works.' How? Listen! Look within and see the need, and if you look at the need you will stop asking...`How?'
"Tell me how Jesus came to my gypsy tent. Oh, it is such a mystery to me. Tell me how when there was no Bible, when I could not spell my name, when I was only a little wandering gypsy boy, with my brother and three sisters and my father, without God and without hope in the world—tell me how Jesus came to that old gypsy tent and opened my eyes and made me know He was my Savior and my Lord.
"Listen! I will tell you why we do not know how. If He did tell us, we could not grasp it. It is so great, for 'great is the mystery of godliness.' 1 Timothy 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16). Listen! The finite cannot grasp the infinite, it is so vast; it is so eternal. And the way in is not by asking questions, or by argument.
"The way is over the old hill called Calvary by the foot of the cross. And if you come that way you will get in tonight. Listen! Listen! Are you born again? I do not ask what church you are a member of, because that does not count. Church membership is no substitute for the new birth.
"Can you close your eyes and say, 'I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day'—can you? Are you sure? Is it a fact? Is it the joy of your life? Is Jesus everything to you? Do you love Him above everything and everybody in the world?
"Are you born again? If you are not sure of it, do not leave until you are. He that is born of God has the witness in himself."
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, (truly, truly) I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3).
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