The view that in the plan God made in eternity for the salvation of humankind, his decree to permit the fall logically preceded his decree of election, so that when God chose some people to receive eternal life, he was choosing them from the whole mass of humanity, all regarded as fallen creatures.
- Scripture used to support infralapsarianism:
…he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6 ESV).
For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy … .” (Romans 9:15 ESV).
- From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.
Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.
Learn more:
- Kevin DeYoung: Theological Primer: Supralapsarianism and Infralapsarianism
- Simply Put: Supralapsarianism and Infralapsarianism
- Richard Phillips: Lapsarian Views
- John Frame: Infralapsarianism
- Phillip R. Johnson: Notes on Supralapsarianism and Infralapsarianism
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