Could you find some other Apostle who calls it a sacrifice? Did Jesus ever say he was sacrificing Himself because the Father demanded it?
Whatever great things +Paul did for the Church (for, without him the Church would have died out in Israel), the man never saw Christ in Person. He never ate with Him. He never walked with Him. Yet, without him the protestans would not be Christians.
Whereas the Gospels narrate what Chirst said and did, +Paul interprets why He did. I find that a little strange that he would do that.
It's almost like his own brand of Christianity, but after the fact.
Wow. You're just being nice to me now with this softball, right.
Will this guy convince you?
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." -- John 10:-18"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The Catholic Mass certainly calls the Passion a sacrifice. Is your objection to the word or to the word's essence?
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world."
John the Baptist
What do you think the Lamb of God IS, if not a sacrifice?
I haven't read this whole thread, but has anybody quoted Hebrews yet? Or how about Revelation:
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
12 In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
I think one would have to throw out huge sections of the Bible if the Lord Jesus Christ's death were not a sacrifice.
Cordially,