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

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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.

SermonRelevance 25

What does it take to make a Christian life?

Sunday, the 13th of January 1957

57-0113 §55

...o God, "Here's my hand, God; I truly want You to come into my heart. I've belonged to church for years. I believe something happened to me, but I've never been able to live that type of life that the preacher is speaking of. I am living a life of ups and downs, and I'm up and done and in and out and I can't get nowhere. God, maybe I just received a new spirit. Your Word said so. Your prophet said that You said You'd give them a new spirit, then put Your Spirit in the new spirit; and maybe I just got the new spirit....

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SermonRelevance 25Broader match

The Church choosing Law for Grace

Thursday, the 16th of March 1961

61-0316 §24

They try to by-pass the very issue of the new birth. That's what takes place. Now, people can't think of this new birth, the baptism of the Holy Ghost and so forth. How did you ever get here, to come into existence, without the natural birth? You couldn't do it. There's no way at all for you to do it, for you to come into existence, and be able to walk around, and to know, without having the natural birth. Is that right? Well, the same thing it is in spiritual. If you're not born again you just don't know nothing a...

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SermonRelevance 25

By faith, Moses

Sunday morning, the 20th of July 1958 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

58-0720M §17

Now, we lose our glory, if we lose faith. Now, if we get away from faith, then we take the church into an intellectual realm. And many times, it's been thought amongst people, that because a congregation was large, and they had great churches, great steeples, and a great lot of well-dressed and groomed peoples, and a lot of finances, that they could afford such things, we many times, thought that was inspiring--that this certain church must be inspired. Or we've often referred to different ministers, who get out on...

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SermonRelevance 25

The junction of time

Sunday, the 15th of January 1956

56-0115 §65

"Only Believe," if you will, sister. How many's to be prayed for, could we see your hands, that wants to be prayed for? I wonder if you'd line up over on the right side here, as many as can. And those on this side lines the middle aisle, here, if they can. Those in this aisle, line over on this side and the ones in the middle aisle here. All right. Let's sing now. Only believe, only believe, All things are possible, only believe; Only believe, only believe, All things are possible, only believe. How many has ever b...

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SermonRelevance 25Broader match

If God be with us, then where is all the miracles?

Sunday evening, the 31st of December 1961 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

61-1231E §88

Pentecostal is fine, but it's a painted fire if you haven't received it yourself. Not a past tense; a present tense! What good is a God of history if He isn't the same God today? As I've often said, what good does it do to give your canary bird vitamins to make his wings grow, and put him in a cage and keep him there? What's the use of teaching that there is a God of power, and then denying the people of the privilege of serving Him? Amen. Certainly. Nonsense! Why you got all these seminaries around, like a big inc...

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