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Answer
These three theological terms, discussed among Calvinist thinkers, address God’s predestination of specific individuals for salvation. The term lapsarian is linked to the English word lapse; humanity’s fall into sin was a “lapse” as it was a “slip” or a “fall” from their original state of innocence. Infralapsarianism (infralapsarian), sublapsarianism (sublapsarian), and supralapsarianism (supralapsarian) focus on sequence—the order in which God ordained events to unfold. How did God sequence the creation of humanity, the allowance of the fall, the election of some for salvation, and the provision of salvation for humanity? Ultimately, these are matters beyond our full comprehension. The specific order in which God decreed events is not crucial. What truly matters is that God created humanity, humanity sinned, and God has offered salvation through Jesus Christ.
Infralapsarianism (“after the lapse”) arranges God’s decrees as follows: (1) God decreed the creation of mankind, (2) God decreed that mankind would fall into sin through their own choice, (3) God decreed to save some of the fallen, and (4) God decreed to provide Jesus Christ as the Redeemer. Infralapsarianism emphasizes God’s allowance of the fall and the provision of salvation. This perspective represents the predominant Reformed (or Calvinistic) view.
Sublapsarianism (“under the lapse”) closely resembles infralapsarianism, ordering God’s decrees as follows: (1) God decreed the creation of human beings, (2) God decreed to permit the fall, (3) God decreed to provide salvation adequate for all, and (4) God decreed to choose some to receive this salvation. The key distinction between infralapsarianism and sublapsarianism lies in whether God first decreed to provide salvation through Jesus Christ and then chose some for salvation, or vice versa.
Supralapsarianism / antelapsarianism (“before the lapse”) arranges God’s decrees as follows:
Order: (1) God decreed the election of some and the eternal condemnation of others, (2) God decreed to create those elected and eternally condemned, (3) God decreed to permit the fall, and (4) God decreed to provide salvation for the elect through Jesus Christ. Supralapsarianism focuses on God ordaining the fall, creating certain people for the sole purpose of being condemned, and then providing salvation for only those whom He had elected.
GotQuestions considers either infralapsarianism or sublapsarianism to be the most biblical position. We do not believe the Bible portrays God as decreeing the fall and creating people for the sole purpose of eternal condemnation. Ultimately, though, the answers to the lapsarian issue are best left up to God. Instead of worrying or arguing over when God decreed what, our concern should be on proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who need to hear it.
