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Year 7

Predestination across denominations

I can explain that belief in predestination originates from the Bible and is interpreted differently across different Christian denominations.

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Year 7

Predestination across denominations

I can explain that belief in predestination originates from the Bible and is interpreted differently across different Christian denominations.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Predestination is the belief that God has decided all that will happen, including who will receive salvation.
  2. Different beliefs about predestination originate from different interpretations of Biblical teaching.
  3. Calvinism is an example of a Christian denomination that teaches that God has predestined people to both heaven & hell.
  4. The Catholic Church teaches that God has only predestined people to heaven.
  5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches that God has foreordained people rather than predestined them.

Keywords

  • Denomination - a branch of Christianity

  • Elect - to choose someone; in Christianity, people chosen by God for eternal life in heaven

  • Foreordination - the belief that God gives people duties and responsibilities that they are called to fulfil

  • Predestination - the belief that God has already decided all that will happen

  • Salvation - being saved from sin and its consequences, leading to eternal life with God

Common misconception

You can't believe in both predestination and free will.

Christians can believe in both because: 1) God knows the free choices we will make, which enables him to predestine us; 2) We have been created with a nature which predetermines us to heaven or hell, we can still act freely within this nature.

You may wish to remind pupils of the Christian beliefs surrounding heaven and hell at the beginning of this lesson.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Many Christians believe that Jesus' death and resurrection saved humanity from the consequences of .
Correct Answer: sin
Q2.
For many Christians, __________ is a place where humans can have eternal life with God.
hell
Correct answer: heaven
purgatory
Q3.
Which person of the Trinity is responsible for creation?
Correct answer: the Father
the Son
the Holy Spirit
Q4.
Which Christian denomination is the Pope the leader of?
the Lutheran Church
the Church of England
the Eastern Orthodox Church
Correct answer: the Catholic Church
Q5.
The is the sole source of authority in Protestant Christianity.
Correct Answer: Bible
Q6.
Free __________ is the God-given ability to make choices without control or influence.
choice
Correct answer: will
action
reign

Exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords below to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:the elect,people chosen by God to be saved

people chosen by God to be saved

Correct Answer:predestination,God has decided all things

God has decided all things

Correct Answer:salvation,being saved from sin

being saved from sin

Correct Answer:foreordination,God calls people to fulfil responsibilites

God calls people to fulfil responsibilites

Correct Answer:denomination,a branch of Christianity

a branch of Christianity

Q2.
Which statement best describes single predestination?
the belief that God predestines people to both heaven and hell
the belief that God predestines people to hell only
Correct answer: the belief that God predestines people to heaven only
Q3.
Which book in the Bible contains the quote "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"?
Acts
Correct answer: Jeremiah
Ephesians
Romans
Q4.
Many Calvinists believe in predestination.
Correct Answer: double
Q5.
Which Christian denomination is the belief in foreordination associated with?
the Catholic Church
Calvinism
Correct answer: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints