Thank you for the thoughtful response.
I differ from some in that I see no evidence from scripture that God is not ‘in time’. I used to assume God was outside of time, but when I went looking for a verse that indicated it, I failed. If you know of any, please share them - I don’t pretend I couldn’t have missed them.
As for Peter, what he writes covers God’s eternity and infinite nature. For an eternal and infinite being, a thousand years IS like a day, or even a second.
The second part refers to God’s infinite nature. Infinity divided by any number is still infinity. God has a thousand years worth of attention to pay to markomalley’s day. Jesus said the hairs on our head are numbered. There are roughly 100,000 on a man’s head, with 100-200 falling out each day. God knows when markomalley’s hair 44,569 falls out...there is no aspect of your day to small for God’s attention.
A priest has several roles. One is offering sacrifice. That is why the NT has no role for Christian Priests - there is no sacrifice for them to offer. The only Christian Priest is Jesus Christ, who offered himself “once for all”.
But a Priest also is a mediator between God and man...and again, we now have one mediator who intercedes for us.
Please notice what it says in Hebrews 7: “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” What does he do? “He always lives to make intercession for them.” Not sacrifice, but intercession.
But what about the sacrifices, such as the Aaronic priesthood offered? “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”
No more sacrifices. “He has no need”.
Chapter 8 asks the question, what does this new high priest offer? He then digresses to criticize the old priesthood, before resuming this theme in Chapter 9. In verse 11 he points out, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent ( not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” To repeat, “he entered once for all into the holy places”.
And why did he do it? “For Christ has entered...to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world.”
He enters on our behalf, but not to offer himself repeatedly, “for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world”.
So what does he do? As best I can tell - Hebrews jumps around a bit - “Behold, I have come to do your will.” No more offering for sin...”But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God...For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified...then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
So Christ doesn’t offer sacrifice. He DID that, and Hebrews repeatedly makes the point that he does it no longer. Now he intercedes for us, and offers obedience to God. This may be a bit of a stretch, but since we are the body of Christ, perhaps our obedience is his offering. I don’t know that, just thinking out loud.
You write: “Let me ask you one question (as a Baptist, you are likely more conversant than I am, as a Catholic, in the Scriptures): in the old covenant, was there ever an occasion where sacrifice was offered in anticipation of future sins? (If so, could you show me where in the OT that this was documented)”
To the best of my limited knowledge, no. But then, the point of Hebrews is how vastly superior the New Priest is to the old priesthood. One Priest, not many. One offering, not many. And the Law is written on our hearts, not on stone tablets, and God remembers our sin no more...so there is no need for further sacrifice.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
As for sitting or standing, I don’t think that is meant literally. Sitting probably means He is resting, and the stuff being discussed is finished. Standing probably means he is about to act, because what is being discussed needs action. Just a guess. I’m sure someone somewhere has studied what those phrases mean.
As for Peter, what he writes covers God’s eternity and infinite nature. For an eternal and infinite being, a thousand years IS like a day, or even a second.
Well, I did not specifically assert that God was outside of time in citing 2Pt3:8. When I stated maybe some things should be considered somewhat in parallel rather than strictly serially, I was merely referring to a multi-processing capability when I spoke of operating in parallel, rather than a 'one at a time' that would be characteristic of serial activity.
Having said that, I do believe that God is "above" time and "outside" of space. Whether referring to praises of His eternal nature, such as in Ps 90, or referring to His foreordaining certain events like our salvation before the foundation of the earth, as described in Ephesians 1, or revealing sure prophecy to certain men of God, I cannot picture "how" this would happen without having a nature that has Him above time, so that He could see tomorrow as clearly as He could see yesterday. As if it was all an eternal "now." Do I have a proof text? No. And, frankly, we only see through a glass, darkly. So if there is another construct that helps explain these things and does have a proof text, I would be more than happy to do so.
Substantially, I agree with what you are saying about the nature and efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ.
But there are a couple of minor points I would like to bring out. You cite Hebrews 7:25 and point out that Christ lives forever and continually makes intercession for us (Also see Rom 8:34).
You also rightfully point out that He made one sacrifice. Not many. He entered once for all.
One point that I would make: His making intercession for us and acting as the mediator are clearly, due to their placement in Hebrews, a function of His role as high priest of the order of Melchizedek.
So let me ask you, how did the Levitical priesthood make intercession for the people? Answer: they offered sacrifices. Not the sacrifice itself (i.e., the immolation), but the offering of that sacrifice to God (be it a wave offering, heave offering, drink offering, burnt offering, or whatever).
That is the reason I say what I say in regards to the time continuum.
Honestly, thinking about this sometimes is a stretch (as my daughter says, 'it makes my brain hurt'). Sort of like the Ford trying to understand Henry, isn't it?
But you bring up an interesting point when you say, This may be a bit of a stretch, but since we are the body of Christ, perhaps our obedience is his offering.
That is an interesting point...and it calls to my mind verses, such as Romans 12:1 (I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship) and Colossians 1:24 (Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church)
Enjoying the conversation...