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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 40

You must be born again

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

61-1231M §135

Now remember, I believe that Jesus Christ says this to every human being, on His first doctrine: "Except a man be born of the water [that's the Word, washing of the water by the Word] and of the Spirit [which is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit confirming the Word], he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." Do you believe that? "By the water," washing of the water by the Word, Word and truth, He is the truth. "Water and Spirit," the Spirit coming with the Word to confirm the Word, making God live in me, see. We cannot...

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SermonRelevance 39

Will I find faith when I return?

Tuesday, the 8th of May 1951

51-0508 §6

And I've noticed in the--Brother Lindsay's paper that "Voice of Healing," there's many in there, many, many ministers. I think any minister that wants to be represented in the paper, that's trying to do what's right, can certainly have a itinerary in the paper. I think that's way Brother Lindsay carries her. And I've noticed there's just picking up all the time, many, many. And every one of them, they have a place in the paper of different people got healed while they were praying for them. So I put all that togeth...

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SermonRelevance 39

Hear ye Him

Sunday, the 26th of January 1958

58-0126 §15

Now, in the Old Testament when a child was born in a family, he was a child when he was born. Now, we take that literally, which is truth. When a child is born, he's a son. And when you're born again of the Spirit of God, you become a son of God. But don't stop there; you've just begin. Now, to get a little background to this picture, let's go back in the Old Testament. And you notice in the King James it says this: "In My Father's house is many mansions." That sounds strange. I think one translator made it more ri...

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SermonRelevance 39Broader match

You must be born again

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

61-1231M §113

So he come to this elected. He said, "Martin, do you know me? I am Christ." He said, "Will you recognize me?" Martin hesitated. It seemed strange. He waited a minute, and he said again, he said, "Don't you see me? I am Christ. Do you recognize me?" He said it three or four times to him. Christ said ... or, Martin said, "Satan, I know you. My Lord is not crowned yet, but His saints shall crown Him." There's the Word of that. That's where that Roman church got so much dogma, evil spirits coming in, contrary to the Wo...

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SermonRelevance 37

A Guide

Sunday evening, the 14th of October 1962 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A.

62-1014E §63

And that's what people say today, "Oh, now wait! You don't believe now, if I go to church and I pay my tithes, and I do this, the other, God's going to cast me down?" Unless a man's born again, he'll not even understand the kingdom of God! See? No excuses! "Well, the poor old man, the poor old woman, they was a good old soul." The only way they can ever see God, is be borned again. That's all. I don't care how little, how old, how young, what they did, how much they went to church, how many denominations they know,...

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