These attributes mean God exists in all his absolute perfections and takes calm delight in who he is. He lives in totally and absolutely perfect blessedness.

Let’s begin.

I. Perfection

A. What do scholars and theologians say?

Let’s do a short word study first.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the adjective that is usually translated as “perfect” is Tamim (91 times), and the synonyms are “without defect, blameless, full, whole, entire.”

The New Testament was written in Greek, and the adjective that is usually translated as “perfect” is teleios (19 times), and its synonyms are “mature, complete.” The verb is teleioō (22 times), and it can be translated as “to complete, finish, to reach a goal; be fulfilled” in addition to “to perfect.” (Howard W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger, The Strongest: NIV Exhaustive Concordance [Zondervan, 1990, 1999; Mounce, pp. 506-07]).

Most of the verses with those words in them are about people. So what do they mean to God? How is he perfect? We have to use Scripture-based logic. It is impossible to improve on what Reformed theologians Herman Bavinck writes:

God’s ‘highest perfection’ is the sum and substance of all the attributes … Accordingly, when we speak of God’s perfection, we do not refer exclusively to his moral excellence, whether ‘goodness or holiness,’ but we mean that God is the sum-total of all excellencies, the One than whom no greater, higher, better can exist, either in thought or reality … In other words, God answers fully to the idea of God (Doctrine, p. 246).

In other word, all of God’s attributes are absolutely perfect, in sum total. He is greater than any other being, either one we think about or one that really exists.

B. Quick definition:

This attribute of God means that he is absolutely and totally complete and entire and whole—not broken or incomplete or deficient in his nature or being.

C. What do the Scriptures says?

Since God himself is perfect and he interacts with humankind, we expect his revelations and way to be perfect too. Here are some verses spelling this out.

His ways and word are perfect:

As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless; (Ps. 18:30)

Some interpret the word “word” in the above verse to mean written Scripture (total inerrancy and infallibility), but the sense is that the content of God’s word is flawless for daily living. The Bible and its laws are practical and down-to-earth. And the same goes for the next verse:

The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. (Ps. 19:7)

Perfection and God’s faithfulness:

Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago. (Is. 25:1)

Now we turn to the New Testament. These verses are bound to intimidate some people—and with good reason! Can we achieve perfection down here? It is better to see the word “perfect” as “whole” or “complete” or moving towards “fulfilling the goal” of being like Jesus (Rom. 8:29; Phil. 3:10; 1 John 4:17).

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:48)

Next, the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant could not make people perfect:

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. (Heb. 10:1)

We are in a race, heading towards completing God’s goal for our lives—being like Jesus (Rom. 8:29; Phil. 3:10; 1 John 4:17). The good news: Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter. We let his Spirit flow through us, and he will complete his mission. Self-effort leads to dead works.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  (Heb. 12:1-2)

Finally, God’s gifts are perfect. He is light, without shadow or personal inconsistency.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

D. How do I come to know God better?

God is absolute perfection. Every attribute, whether considered one at a time, or all together (without confusing them) is totally and completely perfect. He is perfect righteousness and perfect holiness. He has perfect standards.

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). We are called “… to be conformed to the image of his Son” … (Rom. 8:29).

So what happens when we don’t meet those absolute standards? And we are bound to fall short, because he is God, and we are human.

We Christians can worship and praise him that he is perfect love and mercy and grace. He extends those wonderful attributes to us. He wants us to receive his Son Jesus Christ. When we do, his Spirit lives in us, and inch-by-inch he transforms us into better persons. Yes, we have a part to play, like reading Scripture and praying and communing with Jesus, and staying close to fellow believers who are on the same journey towards becoming like Jesus (Rom. 8:29; Phil. 3:10; 1 John 4:17).

But make no mistake. Life in Christ is life in the Spirit. We let the Spirit flow through us (Gal. 5:16), and as fruit grows naturally from a tree (Gal. 5:22-23), Christ himself moves us forward with a God-given ease, not struggle and self-effort.

II. Blessed

A. Brief intro.

This attribute means God knows himself in all his absolute perfections and takes calm delight in who he is. He exists and lives in totally and absolutely perfect blessedness.

B. What do scholars and theologians say?

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the main word for blessing is the verb barak, used 327 times throughout the Hebrew Bible: Genesis 76 times, Deuteronomy 40 times, and Psalms 76 times. Each time it is people-related. The noun is b^eraka, used 71 times, and “denotes the pronouncement of good things on the recipient or the collection of good things” (Mounce, 70).

The New Testament was written in Greek, and the verb is eulogeō, which is used 41 times and means to “bless, thank, or praise.” The adjective eulogētos, which is used 8 times, means “blessed, praised.” A more common adjective is makarios, used 50 times, and has an extensive meaning: happy or fortunate, privileged. The noun is eulogia, where we get our word eulogy, and is used 16 times. It means to “speak well.” It is mostly translated as “praise.” The log– stem is rich in Greek, and it can include speaking a word. (Mounce, pp. 67-71).

But only two times in the New Testament is the frequent word makarios used to describe God’s state of being—he is blessed in his being and essence. But Scripture-based logic tells us this is one of his attributes.

Here’s what one prominent theologian says about the blessedness of God.

First, God’s blessedness corresponds to his degree of perfection. Since God is absolutely perfect in the sum-total of all his virtues (attributes), the highest essence in his goodness and truth, and life, “he is the God of absolute blessedness.”

Second, God’s absolute blessedness is the object of his love and knowledge, and his knowledge and love are absolute and in the highest, sum-total measure. He realizes that his being and nature is absolutely complete and whole and therefore totally and absolutely blessed. He knows that he is pure and infinite blessedness. And since he is absolute and perfect love, then he loves his being and essence. This self-knowledge and self-love means he exists in a state of total blessedness.

Therefore, third, he delights in himself in an absolute sense. “God is his own blessedness. Blessedness and God are the same. By means of his intellect he is fully conscious of his own perfection, and by means of his will he supremely loves it, i.e., he regards it with calm delight; and from this delight inward joy springs forth: the joy with which God delights in himself as the highest good” (Bavinck, Doctrine, 248).

God is not a narcissist or self-absorbed, but let’s use logic. God is perfectly loving and knowing, and he sees this in himself, along with all his other attributes, so he takes calm delight in them and himself. How could he not?

C. Quick definition:

God’s attribute or perfection of blessedness means that he takes calm delight in all his being and excellencies and attributes and prompts him to bless his creation.

D. What do the Scriptures say?

In this section, we focus on makarios. Here are the two verses that use it for God:

[T]hat conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. (1 Tim. 1:11)

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Tim. 6:15b-16)

The latter passage reveals who God is—immortal, and lives in unapproachable light. We can approach the throne of grace boldly (Heb. 4:16), but it is by God’s grace, and we do not see God in his pure essence or his total splendor. No wonder he is blessed!

E. How do I come to know God better?

Nearly ever verse where bless or blessing is mentioned, it is about people. God communicates this attribute to us. We can be blessed and live in a state of blessedness. We don’t have to be narcissists, but we can consider ourselves complete and whole and blessed in Christ.

It starts with receiving God’s forgiveness:

Blessed [makarios] are those whose transgressions are forgiven, who sins are covered. Blessed [makarios] is the one whose sin the Lord will not count against them. (Rom. 4:7-8; Ps. 32:1-2)

When you receive God forgiveness you enter his kingdom. Now what? You are blessed.

In God’s upside-down kingdom, even the outcasts and misfits can be considered blessed—fortunate and happy. Here is the famous opening of the Sermon on the Mount, where the word makarios is used:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:3-11)

Not many people are meek, merciful, peacemakers, and pure in heart, but when God transforms them into being those things, they are blessed. They are happy and fortunate!

Best of all, when you go through persecution because of righteousness, the kingdom of heaven / God belongs to you.

When you know God better and his blessing on you, you can live better and a blessed life.

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