3 min read604 words

How Is It Possible That Many Big Ministers Leading Millions Are Not Truly Born Again?

Login to save this to your study library.

Answered by True Bible Teachings AI on 8/1/2026

1) Direct answer
Yes. The Bible said it would be that way. Men can be anointed, do miracles, lead multitudes, and still not be born again. Gifts can operate without a changed nature, but the new birth is God’s life in the soul, loving and obeying the Word.

2) Scriptural explanation
- Jesus warned of the broad way with many on it, and the narrow way with few who find it (Matthew 7:13–14).
- He said many will say, “Lord, Lord… we prophesied, cast out devils, did many wonderful works,” and He will answer, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21–23). That proves gifts are not the evidence of the new birth.
- False prophets can show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they would deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24).
- Satan transforms himself as an angel of light; his ministers as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
- The gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). You see, a man can be gifted and yet never have his soul changed.
- Hebrews 6:4–6 shows people can taste the heavenly gift and be made partakers of the Holy Ghost’s operations, yet fall away—tasting is not the sealing of the new birth.
- Balaam prophesied accurately and still was false (Numbers 22–24; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). Judas healed the sick and cast out devils, yet was called a devil (Matthew 10:1,8; John 6:70). Caiaphas prophesied and remained unbelieving (John 11:49–52). Signs do not equal sonship.
- Deuteronomy 13:1–3 says God even allows true signs to test whether we love Him and His Word.
- Those who receive not the love of the truth are given over to strong delusion, with all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).
- The true evidence is the Word-life and fruit: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15–20). The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–24). Being born again by the incorruptible Seed, the Word (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18), a new creation that cannot continue in sin (1 John 3:9). He that is of God hears God’s Word (John 8:47; 1 John 4:6).

3) Simple clarifying logic
- Now notice: rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). The same anointing can move on a man’s spirit to preach, heal, or prophesy, while his soul remains unchanged. That’s why wheat and tares can grow together and look alike until harvest (Matthew 13:24–30).
- If miracles proved the new birth, why did Jesus reject miracle workers in Matthew 7? If crowds proved truth, why did Jesus say “few” find it? The test is not gifts, numbers, or fame—it is the Word believed, obeyed, and lived by the Spirit.
- The new birth is Christ, the Word, taking the throne of the heart by the Holy Ghost (John 3:3–6). Anything that denies, twists, or dodges the plain Word shows another spirit at work, no matter how big the platform.
- Therefore a man can be a “big minister,” and still be unconverted: gifted without repentance, active without obedience, anointed on the outside but not sealed on the inside.

4) Reinforcing statement
Stay with the Word, love the truth, and seek the new birth personally—repent, be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). The Elect cannot be deceived because they hear His Voice in His Word and bear His fruit.

What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?

Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.

Church Age BookRelevance 30

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 4: The Smyrnaean Church Age

CAB 4:E-129

...were not only the eternal thoughts of God which were to be expressed in flesh in their due season, but these same elect are called by another name. Romans 4:16. "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all." Romans 9:7-13, "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That...

Read source context

SermonRelevance 30Broader match

Three kinds of believers

Sunday evening, the 24th of November 1963 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

63-1124E §58

There's a guy said to me one time--a minister. Said, "I don't care, Mr. Branham, how many people you could produce that you said was healed, I wouldn't believe it." I said, "Certainly not; you can't believe it. You're a unbeliever; it wasn't for you. It's only for the believers." You've got to believe it, see. And they do not believe it. So when you see a person in that ... Well did Paul speak of (the prophets), saying that they'd be heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having forms of go...

Read source context

SermonRelevance 30

Ye must be born again

Thursday morning, the 19th of June 1958 in Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.A.

58-0619B §17

And when it comes to our emotion and... Remember, I believe in it; I believe that anybody that's got heartfelt religion will shout, and make up a ... I believe that, but yet, that's not all of it. Like the old colored man was down here in the south, eating watermelon. Asked to give him a slice of watermelon, said, "How was that, boy?" Said, "That was good, but there's some more of it." So, that's the way it is this way: This is good, but there's some more of it, you see. We just can't live by this one slice. So the...

Read source context

SermonRelevance 30Broader match

The way of a true prophet of God

Sunday morning, the 13th of May 1962 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

62-0513M §56

He had the Word of the Lord for the nation, but the true Word of the Lord was foreign to those people; yet they thought they had it. (I hope this gets down deep.) They thought that they were so pious and religious, that the real Word of God was a foreign thing to them. And that's the way it is today. The true Word of God made manifest is a foreign thing to lots of Pentecostal people. The real interpretation of the Word, the real woes and curses, the real blessings of God is a foreign thing to many people who call t...

Read source context

Church Age BookRelevance 30

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 5: The Pergamean Church Age

CAB 5:E-27

Many years ago when I first came across the Pentecostal people, I was in one of their camp meetings where there was much manifestations of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy. Two preachers in particular were engaged in this kind of speaking more that any of the other brethren. I thoroughly enjoyed the services and was truly interested in the various manifestations, for they had a ring of reality to them. It was my earnest desire to learn all that I could about these gifts, so I decided to talk to the...

Read source context