Is God perfect?
God is perfect — and Scripture reveals this perfection not as an abstract philosophical idea, but as something displayed in every attribute of His being and supremely manifested in the Person and work of His Son.
The Perfection of God's Nature
Morrish's Bible Dictionary states it with beautiful simplicity:
Morrish's Bible DictionaryGlory belongs to God: He is the God of glory. Acts 7:2; 2 Cor 4:6, 15. In Him all the divine attributes shine in infinite perfection. Christians in acknowledging this, and owning that from Him come all their blessings, joyfully ascribe unto Him "Praise and honour, glory and power, for ever and ever." Rom. 11:36; Gal. 1:5; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2 Tim. 4:18, etc.
God's nature has two essential names. J. N. Darby identifies them:
J. N. DarbyIf we are holy, we shall know what holiness is, only it will be enjoyed in its fulness and perfectness in God Himself, and so directly connected with love, for God is love; His other essential name is light, and in that we walk, being light in the Lord, and there enjoy, as we are formed by love.
And further:
God is blameless in His ways — He is love and He is perfectly holy — we are called to answer perfectly to what He thus is. We are made partakers of the divine nature.
The Perfection of God Displayed at the Cross
The deepest question is not whether God is perfect, but how all His perfections can work together for the blessing of sinful man. H. J. Vine frames this with striking force:
H. J. VineWhere could the wisdom be found, to bring man who is sinful into right relation to God who hates sin? How can man who is unrighteous be made right with God who is righteous? How can man who is unholy be made suitable to the presence of a holy God? ... Could divine wisdom devise a way whereby righteousness and grace could meet together in peace? A way for justice and mercy to greet each other in truth? A way by which all the holy attributes of God could abide in perfect harmony with His nature of love, in the blessing of sinful man who had merited His judgement?
The answer is the cross:
Upon the cross, the holy, sinless Son of God was made sin for us, and then and there made atonement for our guilt, and secured eternal redemption for us. He both satisfied and glorified God in regard to our terrible guilt ... We may look at Creation, and see the glory of His power and divinity; but we must look at the Cross to see His glorious moral perfections, and His great love.
All Perfection Found in Christ
Charles Stanley, in his treatise Perfection; where is it, and what is it?, traces the whole argument of Hebrews to show that God's way of perfection is not man looking within, but God setting Christ before us:
Charles StanleyGod's way is very simple. The law made nothing perfect; all perfection is found in Christ, the perfect one. ... Our thoughts on perfection would lead us to the most unprofitable task of considering ourselves. Not so this epistle; not so the thoughts of God. No, He sets before us His glorious Son.
Stanley traces this through every facet — priesthood, access, redemption, conscience — and reaches the great climax of Hebrews 10:
"For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Oh, do you believe this? Can we go on any farther? Can there be any perfection beyond "for ever perfected"? That which is infinite cannot be repeated. No, one infinite act for ever perfects all the sanctified, by this offering of the body of Jesus once.
The Perfection of God's Work
Because of who God is, His work cannot be anything less than perfect. This principle is stated with great force by one writer on the eternal Sonship of Christ:
His Person is the Rock; therefore His work is perfect. It is the mystery of mysteries. But it is not presented for our discussion, but for our apprehension, faith, confidence, love, and worship.
C. H. Mackintosh draws out the practical comfort of this, showing that the perfection of God's character guarantees the perfection of His provision for His people:
C. H. MackintoshThe holiness that shines in the demand for purity is as bright as the grace that provides it. Grace has made the provision but holiness demands the application thereof.
And:
The highest claims of the government, the character, the nature, and the glory of God have all been perfectly met by the precious work of Christ.
God is perfect in His nature — light and love. He is perfect in His attributes — they shine in infinite perfection without a single flaw. He is perfect in His ways — blameless and wise beyond all searching out. And He is perfect in His works — supremely so at the cross, where righteousness and grace, justice and mercy, holiness and love all met in perfect harmony in the Person of His Son. Because God is perfect, the salvation He provides is perfect: "by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14).