How Is It Possible That Many Big Ministers Leading Millions Are Not Truly Born Again?
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.
Ask a Follow-up Question
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.
Ye must be born again
58-0619B §14
What you are, what Calvinism is, what grace is, is what God did for you. But what works is, is what you do for God in appreciation of what He did for you through grace. That's the whole answer. Then if I am saved, then I live like I'm saved. But I could live like I was saved and not be saved, see. So, it's the fact then, brings it to this spot, that we must be born again. So the born-again experience tells what we are. It doesn't mean that we... I believe in shouting, and all the manifestations and demonstrations o...
God keeps His Word
58-0328 §22
Just about the same they say today about a real Christian that won't tolerate with some of their man-made religion. They say they were borned out of holy wedlock. But Mary knew Who that Baby belonged to; she knowed what, the reason of that birth. And every borned-again son and daughter of God, though you may have to be called bad names, like fanatic, or holy-roller, or something like that, but if you were truly borned of the Spirit of God, it doesn't matter what the rest of the world thinks. They might say that you...
The testimony of a true witness
61-1105 §102
In the Welsh revival, when the great leader of that Welsh revival... They said to him, said, "You'll have a bunch of fanaticism." The only words that he would speak, was, "Relax, and let the Holy Spirit have its way. Relax, and let the Holy Spirit." Not one speck of fanaticism raised up. No, they were all truly borned of the Spirit. Holy Ghost revival, O God, send it upon my little church, Father! Send it upon this waiting people! As we sing that old song, Father, so many times: They were in the upper building, The...
Balm in Gilead
61-0218 §29
And that's what's the matter today. All the nation goes into sin---whiskey joints, the people getting cold and formal, to uncensored radio programs, uncensored television programs. And it's so fascinating, and sin is so beautiful until it attracts the attentions of the people. And if they're not truly borned again where their attraction is on Christ, and single-minded, they'll go after that stuff. They'll act like those people. And the spirit of that will get on them. Used to be the old Pentecostals wouldn't let th...
You must be born again
61-1231M §38
And, remember, the first thing, until you're born again you'll never understand. Twice He spoke it. "Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom." "Except a man be born again, he cannot even see the kingdom." Now, that's punctuated, too. The word ... making all those words; they tell me that they had to write it out. When they say, "Verily, verily," that's a punctuation like a capital. "Verily, verily, I say unto you!" And the word in one place, or many places, it's translated "absolutely." "Absolutely,...