Lesson video

Hi, my name's Miss Minton and welcome to this lesson on predestination across denominations.

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain that belief in predestination originates from the Bible, and is interpreted differently across different Christian denominations.

Now, lots of this learning might be new to you, but please don't worry, because I'm here to guide you through every step of the way.

So let's get started by taking a look at our key words.

We have denomination, elect, foreordination, predestination, and salvation.

Now, the word denomination refers to a branch of Christianity.

So for example, the Catholic church is a Christian denomination.

The word elect means to choose someone.

And in Christianity it refers to people who are chosen by God for eternal life in heaven.

Foreordination is the belief that God gives people duties and responsibilities, and they are called to fulfil these.

Predestination is the belief that God has already decided what will happen.

And finally, salvation means to be saved from sin, and its consequences which allows for eternal life in heaven with God.

Now our lesson today will have two parts.

We'll start by looking at predestination in the Bible, and we'll then move on to looking at beliefs about predestination across denominations.

So let's get started and take a look at predestination in the Bible.

So the word predestination starts with the prefix pre, and I'd like you to pause this video and either have a think to yourself, talk to a partner or talk to me about whether you know any other words that start with the prefix, pre.

Off you go.

Now you may have thought about words like prepay, or pre-made for example, and you might have started to identify that the prefix pre, means before.

It's referring to something that has already happened, or already been done.

Now let's look at the second part of this word, which is destination.

What does the word destination mean? I'd like you to again, pause the video and either have a think to yourself, talk to a partner, or talk to me about what the word destination means.

Off you go.

So hopefully you've identified that a destination is somewhere that you are going.

It's somewhere that you are on a journey to reach.

Now, if we look at pre and destination together, predestination is the belief that God has already decided all that will happen.

Now, the Christian belief in predestination originates from the Bible, and this means that it comes from the Bible.

And we're going to look at an example of where predestination is alluded to within the Bible, and that's in the book of Acts.

And the book of Acts says this about Jesus' crucifixion, "They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen." Now I'd like you to pause the video and either have a think to yourself, talk to a partner or talk to me about what words within this passage suggest predestination.

Off you go.

So it's the words, decided beforehand, that suggests predestination, and that's because predestination refers to the belief that God has already decided all that will happen.

So decided beforehand is a really direct way of referring to predestination.

So let's check your learning so far.

Fill in the blanks.

For Christians, beliefs about predestination originate from the, blank.

Fantastic.

The missing word is Bible.

So for Christians, beliefs about predestination originate from the Bible.

Now the word predestination is most commonly used to refer to God's plan for the afterlife.

So in this context, it's used to show that God has already decided where a person will go when they die.

So whether they'll go to heaven or hell.

And people who have been predestined to go to heaven are called the elect.

And the reason they're called the elect, is because elect means to choose.

So this phrase demonstrates that God has chosen these people to go to heaven.

So let's check your understanding.

Which word is used to refer to people who are predestined to go to heaven? Is it A, the elect.

B, the voted.

Or C, the appointed.

Fantastic.

The correct answer is A.

The word used to refer to people who are predestined to go to heaven is the elect.

Well done.

So we've already taken a look at how the belief in predestination as a whole originates from the Bible, and now we're going to have a look at the belief in predestination of the afterlife being seen in the Bible as well.

Now in Romans 8 it says, "Those he predestined, he called.

Those he called, he also justified.

Those he justified, he also glorified." Now, I'd like you to pause the video, and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself, what does this passage from Romans suggest about predestination? Off you go.

So this passage from Romans suggests that because God has predestined some people, they will be glorified.

But what does it mean to be glorified? So again, I'd like you to pause the video and either have a think to yourself, talk to a partner or talk to me about what it might mean to be glorified.

Off you go.

So, many Christians believe that the term glorified refers to a state of perfection that's achieved through salvation.

So a state of perfection that's achieved from being saved from the consequences of sin and being able to have eternal life in heaven with God.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false.

Many Christians interpret the word glorified as describing a state of perfection achieved through salvation.

Fantastic, that statement is true.

Many Christians do interpret the word glorified as describing a state of perfection that's achieved through salvation.

Well done.

Now, this belief that God has already determined each person's afterlife is quite controversial.

Now I'd like to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself about why this belief might be controversial and what questions might somebody have about predestination.

Off you go.

So as part of your discussion or your thoughts, you may have identified some of these questions that are raised by the belief in predestination.

So, if God has predetermined the afterlife, what's the point in being good? So what's the point in behaving well and being a good person if the afterlife has already been decided.

Or you may have considered whether humans really have free will? So, do humans really have the ability to make their own choices freely if God has already determined where they will go after death? Or you might have considered whether someone can change what is predestined for them? So is it possible for God's plan to change through human actions? Now, many Christians acknowledge these questions and they actually answer them by referring to God's omniscience.

And omniscience means that God is all knowing.

Many Christians would say that because God knows everything, including the choices that we will make freely and where those choices will lead us, he already knows whether we are destined for heaven or hell.

And because God already knows this, it cannot be changed.

And that means that we are predestined for either heaven or hell, depending upon our own actions that God already knows.

Now, this concept of God's omniscience and God's knowledge is highlighted in the book of Jeremiah, which is in the Bible.

And in the book of Jeremiah, God says to him, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

Before you were born, I set you apart.

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Now I'd like you to pause the video and consider these questions.

How might a Christian interpret this passage, and what might it suggest to them about God's knowledge? So either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

Off you go.

So, many Christians interpret this passage as evidence that God knows all things, even before they've happened.

Now I'd like you to consider whether having knowledge is the same as deciding, and whether both knowledge and deciding can work together.

So pause the video again and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

Off you go.

So there can be slightly different approaches within Christianity to whether God deciding and God knowing are the same, or if they're separate, the relationship between the two.

So for some Christians, the emphasis is on God's knowledge rather than his decisions.

So God knows everything that will happen, rather than God decides everything that will happen.

Whereas other Christians might take the approach that God has knowledge of everything because he has ultimate control of everything.

So in other words, God knows because he has had control over it.

So let's check your understanding.

Which statement best describes how Christians respond to questions raised by predestination.

Is it A, many Christians would respond by saying God decides everything, and humans have no control or free will.

Or is it B, many Christians would refer to God's omniscience and place emphasis on God's knowledge of all things.

Well done.

The correct answer is B.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

Aisha and Lucas are discussing predestination.

Aisha says that predestination refers to the belief that God has already decided everything that will happen.

And Lucas says that predestination refers to the belief that God has already decided where each person will go when their physical life ends.

I would like you to have a go at explaining why these statements are both true, and use a quote from the Bible to support your explanation.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work during that task.

Now, your response might look something like this Aisha's statement is true because she recognises the wider meaning of the word predestination, which is that God has already decided all things that will happen.

This is seen in the book of Acts which says that the people responsible for Jesus' crucifixion did what God had decided beforehand.

Lucas' statement is also true because he applies predestination to the afterlife.

This is seen in Romans which says that those who are predestined will be glorified.

So again, a big well done for your hard work during that task, particularly for including quotes from the Bible.

So we're now moving on to the second part of our lesson, which is to look at beliefs about predestination across denominations.

Now, the beliefs about predestination can vary across the different Christian denominations.

And we can actually think of beliefs surrounding predestination as a spectrum.

And on one end of the spectrum, we have the belief that God already knows who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.

In the middle of the spectrum, we have the belief that God has predetermined who receives salvation, so in other words, who will go to heaven, but he does not condemn people to hell.

And then on the other end of the spectrum, we have the belief that humans have been foreordained rather than predestined.

So let's take a look at some of these beliefs in a bit more detail.

Calvinism, which is a Christian denomination founded by John Calvin, is an example of a Christian denomination that holds the belief that God already knows who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.

And this is because John Calvin taught that God had predestined some people for heaven and others for hell.

Now, this belief is known as double predestination, and that's because God has predestined people for two places, heaven and hell.

Now, Calvin's ideas are very closely linked to St.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians, which is found in the Bible.

In Ephesians 1 it says, "In him we are also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will." Now, I would like you to pause this video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself about the following questions.

Who is him? So who is this passage referring to when it uses the word, him? And what does this passage suggest about predestination? Off you go.

So this passage is using the word him to refer to God, and it states that humans have been predestined in line with God's will.

Or in other words, humans have been predestined in line with what God wants.

Now, for many Calvinists today, this belief that God has chosen who will go to heaven and who will go to hell, is rooted in the concept that God knows everything and has ultimate control over everything.

So if God knows and controls everything, he must already know whether our actions will lead us to heaven or hell.

So God must already know what the result and consequences for our actions will be.

And therefore that means that our paths are fixed.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false.

Many Calvinists today believe that God has no knowledge of our choices and actions.

Fantastic.

That statement is false.

But why is that statement false? Well, it's because many Calvinists today actually believe that God has full knowledge of our choices and our actions, even the ones that haven't happened for us yet.

That means that God already knows whether we will go to heaven or go to hell, and because of this, our paths are fixed.

So well done for identifying that that statement is false and for identifying the reason why.

Now, the Catholic Church is an example of a Christian denomination that takes a slightly different approach.

The Catholic Church teaches that God has elected people for heaven, but he has not chosen anyone to go to hell.

And those who go to hell, end up there as a result of their own actions.

As a result of using their own free will to make bad choices.

And this belief is known as single predestination, and that's because God is electing people for heaven only rather than heaven and hell.

Now, earlier we looked at how beliefs in predestination originate from the Bible.

And within the Catholic Church, the Bible is seen as the word of God.

However, the Catholic Church is unique because the Pope and the bishops have the authority to interpret and teach the Bible.

And this links to the very clear structure of authority that's found within the Catholic Church that includes the Pope, Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests.

Now, these interpretations can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is a document of Catholic Church teachings.

Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church says the following about predestination, "God predestines no one to go to hell for this, a willful turning away from God, a mortal sin is necessary and persistence in it until the end." Now, I would like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself about how this quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church supports the Catholic belief that God only predestines to heaven and not hell.

Off you go.

So the quote very clearly states that God does not predestinate anyone to go to hell.

Instead going to hell is a result of a person willingly turning away from God through sin.

So let's check your understanding.

The Catholic Church teaches about predestination through the A, Catechism of the Pope, B, Catechism of the Bishops, or C, Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Well done.

The correct answer is C.

The Catholic Church teaches about predestination through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Well done.

We're now going to take a look at a denomination that holds the belief that humans have been foreordained rather than predestined.

And this is the case for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This denomination rejects the belief in predestination and instead believes that people have been foreordained, which means that people have been called to certain duties and responsibilities by God.

And humans can choose whether or not they respond to this calling.

In doing so, a person is also able to choose how they respond to God's offer of salvation.

So in other words, if a person responds willingly to God's call, they are also responding willingly to God's offer of salvation.

Now, we've already taken a look at Ephesians, when we looked at Calvinism.

But we're going to take a look at Ephesians again and look at how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints interprets Ephesians differently.

So in Ephesians 1:4 it says, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." Now, I'd like you to pause the video and discuss with a partner, discuss with me or have a think to yourself about how this passage might be interpreted to support this particular denomination's view.

Off you go.

So, this passage can be interpreted to suggest that humans have been chosen to be holy.

So in other words, humans are being called by God to be holy, and that supports the belief in foreordination rather than predestination.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false? All Christians interpret biblical teachings surrounding predestination in the same way.

Fantastic.

That statement is false.

But why is that statement false? Well, it's because Christians don't always interpret biblical teachings in the same way.

And we can take the book of Ephesians as an example of this because we've seen how it's interpreted differently by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints compared to how Calvinists might interpret it.

So well done for identifying that that statement is false and the reason why.

Okay, it's now time for you to complete a task.

Alex asks you to explain the key beliefs about predestination within Calvinism, Catholicism, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

How will you explain this to him? I would like you to use the lesson keywords in your response.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work during that task.

So Alex had asked you to explain key beliefs about predestination within Calvinism, Catholicism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

And you were asked to use the key words in your explanation.

Now, your response might look like this.

Many people who are part of the denomination of Calvinism believe in double predestination, which is the belief that God has predestined who will go to heaven, known as the elect, and who will go to hell.

The Catholic Church agree that God has predestined people for heaven, but that hell is a consequence of a person's actions.

Contrastingly, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe in foreordination rather than predestination.

A person can choose whether they respond to God's call and achieve salvation.

So again, a well done for your hard work during that task, particularly for making sure that you included the key words for our lesson.

We've now reached the end of our learning for today.

But before we finish up, let's take a look at some of the key things that you've learned during this lesson.

So you've learned that predestination is the belief that God has decided all that will happen, including who will receive salvation, and these people are known as the elect.

You've also looked at beliefs about predestination and how they originate from the Bible.

And that different Christian denominations interpret these teachings in different ways.

You've looked at how many Calvinists believe in double predestination, whereas the Catholic Church teaches single predestination because hell is a result of a person's own actions and not God's.

And finally, you've looked at how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches foreordination rather than predestination.

So a huge well done for all of your work during this lesson.

It's been wonderful learning with you today.