"For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}"
Author: Romans 8 Verses #: 29
"having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,"
Author: Ephesians 1 Verses #: 5
The doctrine of "predestination" of being "chosen" and "foreordained" to be "saved" is taught in the New Testament letters, but is really a carry over from the "chosen" Hebrew nation. This doctrine was hotly debated for centuries and is at the root of denominationalism. The teaching of predestination teaches that god know's ahead of time who will be allowed to go to heaven because he actually predestines them. The evangelical movement of the last 60 years has overriden this teaching of predestination and teaches that it is false and that individuals have a "free will". The predestination debate has not gone away, but for the moment the evangelicals overlook the verses that teach predestination as it does not fit the current theological worldview that faith can be coerced, demanded and imposed on people with the fear of hell. The 25 references that Jesus makes to hell allows the teaching of hell to compliment evangelism perfectly. Predestination involves god overriding free will thus making evangelism a mute point. People judge themselves to be too important in the saving and being saved to leave hell up to predestination. Hell, in and of itself is a cruel enough concept, let alone the concept that god "predestines" some people to go there and some people to be excluded makes it even more unfair and barbaric for a "god of love and justice". Of course, god never claimed through ancient scripture to be a god of love and justice. He just claims to be able to do what he wants, when he wants, to whom he wants. This is a recurrinng theme in both the Old and New Testament. Jesus claims he is sent to the jews, claims that anyone can go to heaven that believes on him and then takes the claim back on several occasions by adding more requirements to salvation than mere mental ascent. Predestination leaves one unsure of one's salvation. The believer didn't appear to make the choice to believe in God, rather god made the choice for them to believe in the vicarious bloodshed of a jewish prophet to atone for one's "sins". The verses pertaining to predestination cannot be denied and are clear, but are largely ignored and overridden in the popular demand to know for sure one is going to heaven.
