What Is God Like?

Just like there is a law of mathematics that compels good-teachers to correct wrong answers with red ink, there’s a law of nature that shows us what we are supposed to be—and aren’t. The Natural Law is beneath everything that is self-evident. In short, it tells us what the word “perfect” means.

It's an interesting fact that our awareness of the Natural Law doesn’t come from years of study, or after gaining proficiency in rightly applying it. On the contrary, we know it is there because we can’t meet its demands no matter how hard we try—and deep down we know we should. The Natural Law is basic-knowledge. This means that we know it without having to be taught.

Consider this. You didn’t learn that a hug from your mom helps when you’re scared or hurt. She wasn’t taught that she ought to give you one either. Her nature simply compels her to respond to suffering with love, and perhaps with some good food too. There's a basic pattern or Image that tells us what a human being is and ought to be. 

That self-same Image tells us what God is like. Even though He Is greater than we can ask or think, we all know something about what He's like. "He Is" what each of us should be, and what all of us ought to become—Perfect. (Matthew 5:48).

To think great about God, we have to first unpack what we know about Perfection from the Natural Law. First, Perfection is One. Logic actually prohibits two or more independent Perfections from co-existing. 

Notice this carefully. Perfection maximally contains every possible good. If there were any difference at all between two “gods,” then each would have something the other one lacked. Lack is an imperfection. Therefore, the gods of dualism, polytheism, and even Mormonism cannot be God. Logic and the Bible are in perfect agreement. God Is One (Deuteronomy 6:4). And He Is the only One (Isaiah 44:6).

Now, this doesn’t mean that God doesn't have parts. It just means that God can’t be reduced to His parts. Since God is the Perfect Being, everything that is an essential part of God Is God, and shares in the Perfection of the Ultimate-One. This might seem confusing for you at first, but it is really important, so wrestle with it.

Perfection is ultimately Stable. It is the solid Rock beneath all meaning. Notice that if Perfection changed, it could only be in one direction—for the worst. It wouldn't be Perfect anymore. This is what theists mean when they say that God is immutable. Simply put, if God’s Perfect Nature changed, He couldn’t be God anymore. Since God is a necessary and eternal Being, this simply cannot happen. It is impossible because God’s Name and Nature forever is "I AM." (Exodus 3:14-15)

Next, Perfection is Limitless. This fact needs to be understood very carefully. We just established that Perfection can’t change. Thus, the only real “limit” on Perfection is It's own Nature. Since God Is Perfect, everything He thinks or does must be Perfect too. You see, God isn’t able to make a mistake. He isn’t able to fall short of a goal. He isn’t able to bring about evil. These aren’t limitations, they're just consequences that follow from the ultimate Fact. God is perfectly able to do every perfect thing. This is what theists mean by the right use of the word “Omnipotent” (all-powerful).

Perfection is Reasonable. No sane person thinks that chaos & confusion are "perfect." The knowability of logic, mathematics, and morality indicates a Headwaters of Perfect-Reason. As the Source of Meaning Itself, God has perfect knowledge. This is what theists mean by the right use of the word “Omniscient” (all-knowing).

Perfection is Free. Nothing outside of Perfection has any power over It. God is not constrained or “ruled” by anything but His own Perfect Nature. He is Supernatural and He supervenes every aspect of created reality. This is what theists mean by the right use of the word “Sovereign.”

Finally, Perfection has a Purpose. Every good thing that we can think of exists for a good purpose. There is no such thing as a useless good. Now, if all good things have a good purpose, then Perfection must have a Perfect-Purpose. This is what theists mean when they rightly talk about God’s Will.

So what is Perfection’s Purpose? Notice carefully that Perfection doesn’t need anything. God has nothing to take from creation. So why did He create it? Because God has everything within Himself to give to creation. Understanding this bedrock Fact is the key to thinking great about God.

Creation is God's means of sharing Perfection. The Perfect-Purpose of God is actually to give Himself to and for creatures like you and me (John 3:16). While God's Reason, Freedom, Will, and Power are the means through which God shares Himself with the world—Love is what God ultimately Is. Love Is Perfection. (1 John 4:7-11)

Thomas Aquinas was a man who dedicated his whole life to thinking great about God. Thomas noticed that God’s Perfection must be essential to Himself. Thomas also noticed that our own “due-perfections” aren't essential to us. On our own, we lack "our-perfection." So, where can we find it?

It’s in the Perfect-Being who created us for Himself. Our perfect-purpose is to know Him. How? By way of the Greatest power in this world or the next…