Dualism ? Question: "What is dualism?"

Dualism ?

Question: "What is dualism?"

Answer: In theology, the concept of dualism assumes that there are two separate entities—good and evil—which are equally powerful. In “Christian” dualism, God represents the good entity and Satan represents the evil entity.

However, the truth is that even though Satan has some power, he is no equal to God Almighty, for he was created by God as an angel before he rebelled (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-17). As the Scripture says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). According to Scripture, there is no dualism, no two opposing forces of equal power called good and evil. Good, represented by God Almighty, is the most powerful force in the universe without exception. Evil, represented by Satan, is a lesser force that is no match for good. Evil will be defeated every time in any head-to-head match with good, for God Almighty, the essence of good, is all-powerful, whereas evil, represented by Satan, is not.

Whenever any doctrine portrays good and evil as two equal opposing forces, that doctrine contradicts the scriptural position that good, represented by God Almighty, is the dominant power in the universe. Since Satan was not, and never will be, equal to God, any doctrine that says he is can be marked as a false doctrine. The fact that Satan was thrown out of heaven for trying to rise above God does not mean Satan has given up trying to be equal or superior to God, as evidenced by the basic tenets of “dualism” that have come down largely through the philosophical stem of human wisdom.

There can be no dualism existing in any corner of our universe. There is only one power that is overriding, and that power is God Almighty as revealed to us in the Bible. According to the scriptural evidence, there is only one power that is omnipotent, not two. Thus, any doctrine of dualism which contends that there are two equal powers opposing each other (good and evil) is a false doctrine.

Recommended Resources: Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie and Logos Bible Software.

c/o

( got questions.org )

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Therefore the doctrine of hell is a false doctrine, for not only does it ascribe an equality to satan and thus the power of evil and sin.

Or it posits a cooperation between good and evil and a God Who even though He wills all men to be saved and has demonstrated His great love towards us in the giving of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has conquered death, hades and the grave: still does not have enough power to completely overcome sin and death; even after the so called defeat of Satan.

From our position it looks like God wants to maintain evil and will take delight in the eternal misfortunes of countless billions of innocents.

Wasn't salvation a free gift, not dependent upon our works of goodness or self righteousness.

Why would God then go back on His love gift of grace to all of mankind and reckon the price His own Son paid as insufficient and not strong enough to counter our very strong free will.

Isn't God, or anyone who has such an important and everlasting gift to offer, especially One Who by very nature is love; obligated by love and mercy to relentlessly pursue the lost sheep, to wait patiently in faith for the prodigal to return, to search endlessly to eternity if needs be until that lost coin is found again; all for the rejoicing in heaven of one lost sinner coming home.

And who said that it was only in this life that we had hope in Christ?

For I will agree with Paul, who said that if this were the case we would of all men be most miserable.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

1 Corinthians 15:19-28 KJV