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.
The Key to the door
62-1007 §59
So, communion is for Christians that's born again of the Spirit of God. And "born again" does not necessarily mean now that you got the Holy Ghost. Now remember. Now, many teach that. "I don't know anybody that teaches it like this," as old Brother Arganbright said that night from the pulpit here, see. But, new birth is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture doesn't support it, I don't think, see, to my way of seeing it, see. I believe that you're born again...
Ye must be born again
58-0619B §11
I'm wondering this morning, as we are gathered here together, brothers and sisters, you ministers and Sunday school teachers, and whatever you are. What does this all mean? Why are we here, and what's the great struggle? And each night I've been trying to say this, look like, many times trying to condemn organizations and trying to condemn this, and condemn that. I am an extremist, that's true, and sometimes I go so far on one side I overbalance the other. But I don't mean to do that. I'm trying to say this: that a...
The unpardonable sin
54-1024 §74
But let me tell you the Gospel truth now in the coming revival: "Except a man be born of water and of Spirit, he will in nowise enter into the kingdom"; the words of Jesus Christ in Saint John the third chapter. He told the great ruler that was a religious man; he was a renown man, he was a pious man, he was a teacher, he was a scholar. Everything that you could expect in him, he was. But Jesus told him that he did not have everlasting life, 'cause he hadn't been... He didn't even understand it. He said, "Except a...
You must be born again
61-1231M §95
I got a piece of paper I was going to bring with me, where that the ecumenical father of all the Greek Orthodox and Orthodox churches has talked with Pope John the 22nd, and he said, "We may not see it in our generation, but the great brotherhood in the emerge of both Protestant and Catholic is coming together." I thought, "Praise God!" Somebody cut it out of a paper, wrote to me like that. I believe it was Brother Norman or somebody, said, "Brother Branham, it's later than we think." Look at today, the minister of...
Is your life worthy of the Gospel?
63-0630E §69
...He must be your Father, in order for you to be a son. And only His sons and daughters are saved, not the members of a church, but sons and daughters. There's only one thing that will produce that, that's the new Birth. The new Birth is the only thing that will produce relationship to God. That right? [Congregation says, "Amen."] Sons and daughters. Then when this takes place, then the men... Here's the question I want to get to you. The man says, "What do we do then after we been born again?" So many ask me that qu...