The Covenant Timeline: What the Bible Really Says About the Sabbath, the Cross, and Sunday Keeping

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Intro

Yo, a lotta folks think Sunday worship started as part of the new covenant after Jesus rose.

But the question is—does that line up with the Bible?

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If nothing can be added to a covenant after it’s sealed, then Sunday worship would have to be included before Jesus died—or not at all.

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Let’s walk through it step-by-step and see what God’s Word says, not tradition.

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1: When Was the Old Covenant Established and Ratified?

Where? Mount Sinai

Exodus 24:7–8 –

“And he took the book of the covenant… and sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you…’”

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How was it ratified?

With the blood of an ox—Moses sprinkled it on the altar and the people.

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Point:

• The covenant wasn’t ratified when the law was spoken.
• It became official after the blood was applied.

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2: When Was the New Covenant Established and Ratified?

Where? Mount Calvary

Hebrews 9:17 –

“For a testament is in force after men are dead: since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”

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Galatians 3:15 –

“Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.”

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How was it ratified?

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By the blood of Jesus on the cross.

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Point:

• A covenant (even a human one) cannot be changed after the one who made it dies.
• Jesus died on Friday—which means anything added after that is too late to be part of the New Covenant.

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3: So When Did Sunday Worship Begin?

Let’s be real—nowhere in the Bible does Jesus command Sunday keeping.

He kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16)

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He rested in the tomb on the Sabbath

The disciples rested on the Sabbath “according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56)

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But no command was ever given by Jesus or before His death to shift the Sabbath to Sunday.

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So if people say Sunday keeping started after the resurrection…

That’s three days too late to be part of the New Covenant.

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The covenant was sealed with Jesus’ blood on Friday.

Anything added after His death?

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Galatians 3:15 — “It cannot be added to.”

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4: Why Communion Is Part of the New Covenant

Luke 22:19–20 –

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you…”

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Jesus instituted communion on Thursday, before His death on Friday.

That means:

• It was established before the covenant was sealed
• Therefore, it is included in the New Covenant

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But Sunday keeping?

Was never taught or commanded by Jesus

Was never part of His ministry

Was never ratified by His blood

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Final Truth Bomb: Can Sunday Keeping Be Part of the New Covenant?

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Nope.

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Not if we believe the Bible.

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If Jesus didn’t command it before He died,

If there’s no record of it being added by Him,

And if the covenant was sealed on Friday at the cross,

Then Sunday cannot be part of the New Covenant.

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Only what Jesus said and did before the cross counts.

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Call to Action (CTA)

Stop following tradition just because it’s popular.

Start reading what the Word actually says.

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Study Exodus 24.

Read Hebrews 9 and Galatians 3.

Look at Luke 22–24.

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Ask the hard question:

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If Sunday wasn’t in the covenant, why am I treating it like it’s holy?

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What to Hold Onto

The Sabbath was blessed and sanctified at creation

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It was written in stone by God’s finger

Jesus kept it

The disciples kept it

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And the New Covenant never changed it

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Jesus sealed the covenant with His blood—don’t let man rewrite it with their tradition.

Stick with what He said.

If He didn’t include it, don’t add it.

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Let the blood of the Lamb be your foundation—

not man-made religion.

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