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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

The greatest battle ever fought

Sunday, the 11th of March 1962

62-0311 §106

Sure! Yes, sir! These are ministering spirits sent from the presence of God to be ministers. To minister what? His Word---not some theology, but God's Word. They're ministering spirits sent forth from God to minister, ministering spirits. Oh, And remember if it ministers something besides the Word it didn't come from God, 'cause Thy Word is always confirmed in heaven. Always in heaven, the Word, God watches over it, and He'll never send a spirit to minister something besides the Word. He'll never send a spirit with...

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SermonRelevance 25

As I thought on my ways

Friday, the 14th of August of 1959 at the Miami Valley Chatauqua Camp in Chatauqua, Ohio, U.S.A.

59-0814 §9

That's why we're here in America now, waiting for the hour when we can cross the seas again, where we can go into those people. And the offerings and so forth that we get, all over the expenses, goes directly to that cause. Then when we get there at the judgment bar, you'll see that that's the truth. That everything that we have done with reverence, we've put it to the kingdom of God, every cent that we can, and live as meager as we possibly can do, so that the kingdom of God... I do not believe that we ought to be...

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SermonRelevance 25

Questions and Answers, Part 1

Sunday morning, the 23rd of August of 1964 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

64-0823M §50

Now, I believe that you are saved by accepting Jesus Christ. And water baptism is an outward expression to show that something inwardly has happened, because water has no virtue; it's just a symbol. And I believe that you're saved when you... Now, there's many people (let me straighten this for brother)... There's many people that are ... say they're saved; many are baptized in Jesus' name; many speak in tongues, and have all kinds of signs of the Holy Ghost, and still not even saved. That's right. "Many will come...

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SermonRelevance 25

God's Provided Way

Wednesday, the 13th of May 1953

53-0513 §5

Our Lord is here tonight. Many are standing, been standing for quite a while, no doubt. And I feel sorry for you to have to stand like that. Some day, there's some of the brothers out on the field that ... well, they was probably a little more prosperous in the financial ways than I was, and they got great big tents. And many of them now are not using them. So, several of them has called me and told me I could have their tent, if I wanted to use it. Some of them seat as many as fifteen thousand. I was talking to Br...

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SermonRelevance 24Broader match

Questions and Answers, part 1

Sunday morning, the 3rd of January 1954 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

54-0103M §1

That's fine, and I'm certainly happy to be here this morning to try to answer a few of these questions. And I see some more has come in. And so we're... It may take me just a little bit of time to kind of read some of these, because I just got them this morning. And I want to express my feeling of being here to worship God today on this beautiful Sabbath that He's give us to come together. And a little place that we gather in and for the pastor, our brother, Brother Neville---a servant of God---and for all the deac...

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