Does Romans 8:29 teach that God predestines people to hell or to heaven?
Romans 8:29 does not say God predestines people to hell or to heaven. It says whom God foreknew, He predestinated to a position—being conformed to the likeness of His Son. That position is reserved for every individual believer, not a destination of heaven or hell.
Les explains that Romans 8:29 is often misread. The text does not say, “For whom He did foreknow, He did also predestinate to hell,” nor does it say “to go to heaven.” Instead, what it really says is that whom God did foreknow, He predestinated to a position—being conformed or made like to the Son. That is not heaven or hell; it is a position God has reserved for every individual believer. Les then connects this to Ephesians 1:4, where believers are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy, set apart, and without blame before Him in love, as a result of that love extended on the cross.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
More Questions
What does Romans 8:29 say believers are predestined to?
In Romans 8:29, being predestinated does not mean being predestined to hell or even to heaven; the predestination is to a position, specifically being conformed or made like God's Son.
What did God predestine believers to in Romans 8:29?
God's predestination in Romans 8:29 is not to heaven or hell, but to a position: being conformed or made like His Son.
What does Romans 8 actually say we are predestinated to?
Romans 8 does not say that God predestinated people to hell or to heaven; it says that whom God foreknew, He predestinated to a position — namely being conformed to, or made like, the Son.
What position has God predestined believers to in Romans 8:29?
The position to which God predestinates believers in Romans 8:29 is being conformed or made like to the Son.