Jesus prophesied that we would be keeping the Sabbath until He returns in Matthew 24

[SabbathBlessings]

Wrong again. Believers met on Sunday in Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.

They met every day of the week but what Bob said which you have not provided scripture to indicate otherwise is

1.Gathering for worship and Gospel preaching "every Sabbath" is not the "sign" of ignoring the Sabbath.
2. Not even one such text for "week day 1".

There is no text that says they preached every first day, or met every first day to pray, read the Word of God, preach to whole cities, meet in the Temple every first day- this is all reserved for the seventh day in very clear scripture previously provided because this is God's holy day and the day Jesus kept His whole life as our example to follow and why the Sabbath continues to be the chosen day of worship for all eternity according to our Lord and Savior Isaiah 66:22-23

A collection for money is not preaching the Word of God on the first day every week. This collection was not for religious reasons so therefore would not be made on God's holy Sabbath day. All other days are working days according to God Exodus 20:9 hence why the collection was not on the Sabbath

 

[BobRyan]

Wrong. Believers met on Sunday in Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.

Acts 18:4 says they met 'every Sabbath" for worship and Gospel preaching to both gentiles and Jews.

Acts 20:7 does not say they "met every week-day-1" - at all ... not for anything at all. All it says is that they met once on a Sunday. Nothing about "every Sunday" having gospel preaching or worship. In Acts 18:4 the 7th day is given the name of honor "Sabbath" -- in Acts 20 week-day-1 cay is given the identifier "first day of the week".

1 Cor 16:2 says that every sunday -- every weekday one - they set money aside by themselves.

2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper,

Nothing at all there about a gathering of any type at all - much less for worship or for Gospel preaching

BobRyan said: ↑
1. Gathering for worship and Gospel preaching "every Sabbath" is not the "sign" of ignoring the Sabbath.
2. Not even one such text for "week day 1".

.

Yeah so far that is accurate. Got any other ideas for a challenge to point 2 above??

 

[BobRyan]

The portions of the OT that are specified as being cancelled in Acts and the Epistles as we see in Acts 15:23-29 are to be recognized as no longer applying.

Not one text in the OT is identified in Acts 15 as "cancelled".

Some folks have not noticed that there is no place in the OT where gentiles are commanded to be circumcised in order to be saved. That is never commanded them in OT or NT. Even the non-Christian Jews in Acts 13 did not "invent that idea" for Gentile converts attending their Sabbath services.

Heb 10 tells us that animal sacrifices ended - but that is because they pointed to the sacrifice of Christ -- they were predictive.

Heb 7 tells us that the Levitical priesthood ended at the cross - with Christ taking on His role as our High priest.

 

[BobRyan]

from Wikipedia: Traditionally, the church (SDA) has taught that the Second Coming will be preceded by a global crisis with the Sabbath as a central issue.

It is true that a prediction exists among SDAs that at some future point civil laws will emerge that make it a crime to worship on Sabbath .. So far that has not happened in America... Also..so far the future is not fully unfolded.

 

[BobRyan]

Keep in mind that the OT was written to Jews who though many loved God were not born-again

All OT saints were born again - all of them under the New Covenant of Jer 31:31-34 that is unchanged in the NT - as we see in Heb 8:6-12.

Because there has only been "ONE" Gospel in OT and NT as we are reminded in Gal 1:6-9 and that Gospel was "preached to Abraham" Gal 3:8. It was "preached to us JUST as it was to them also" Heb 4:2

 

[BobRyan]

You think you are doing God's work by insisting that Christians go back to strict adherence of the Sabbath, but you don't have good scriptural grounds.

Is 66:23 in the NEW Earth - long after the cross -- "from Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL MANKIND come before Me to worship"

In the NT long after Christ went to heaven "they met EVERY Sabbath" Acts 18:4 for Gospel preaching and worship - for both gentiles and Jews.

IN the NT "what matters is KEEPING the commandments of God" Acts 17:11 where "The FIRST commandment with a promise" is "Honor your father and mother" Eph6:2 - in that still-valid unit of ten.

In the NT "SIN IS transgression of the Law" 1 John 3:4 and in that context we are told to "Sin not" 1 John 2:1

=====================

The scriptural grounds for this above are so clear and obvious - that almost all Bible scholars in every major Christian denomination affirm the TEN commandments as still applicable for mankind.

D.L. Moody
Baptist Confession of Faith sectn 19
Westminster Confession of Faith section 19
Catholic Catechism
C.H. Spurgeon
R.C. Sproul
Dies Domini by Pope John Paul II.
.. numerous others from every major denomination

 

[John Mullally]

They met every day of the week but what Bob said which you have not provided scripture to indicate otherwise is

1.Gathering for worship and Gospel preaching "every Sabbath" is not the "sign" of ignoring the Sabbath.
2. Not even one such text for "week day 1".

There is no text that says they preached every first day, or met every first day to pray, read the Word of God, preach to whole cities, meet in the Temple every first day- this is all reserved for the seventh day in very clear scripture previously provided because this is God's holy day and the day Jesus kept His whole life as our example to follow and why the Sabbath continues to be the chosen day of worship for all eternity according to our Lord and Savior Isaiah 66:22-23

No per Jesus worship is not predicated on location or day of the week.

John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.​

A one-time collection for money is not preaching the Word of God on the first day every week. This collection was not for religious reasons so therefore would not be made on God's holy Sabbath day. All other days are working days according to God Exodus 20:9 hence why the collection not on the Sabbath

In the first century, there are records that believers got together on Saturday and Sunday. Getting together is not keeping the Sabbath. There are no records in the NT as to whether Gentile believers being required to keep the Sabbath.

 

[BobRyan]

No per Jesus worship is not predicated on location or day of the week.

we all worship every day of the week .. Every single one on this thread and this forum. That is not the issue being debated.

John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.​

 

[BobRyan]

In the first century, there are records that believers got together on Saturday and Sunday. Getting together is not keeping the Sabbath. .

Agreed that people can meet whenever - but there was a weekly day of worship in the NT called "Sabbath" and we see them gather "every Sabbath" for Gospel preaching and worship - for both gentiles and Jews in Acts 18:4

 

[Clare73]

Again ... Jesus says

“The Sabbath was made for man (mankind), not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27

Not just the Jews .... made for mankind.

Why did Jesus keep the 7th day Sabbath?

Because Jesus was, born, lived, preached and died under the Old Covenant.
We have a new command under the New Covenant, obedience to which is the complete fulfillment of the law "and whatever other commandment there may be." (Romans 13:8-10)

Feel free to exegete Hebrews 3:7-4:11, accounting for
1) Christian Hebrews being instructed on Sabbath rest (4:1),
2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8),
3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4) and
4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
in consistency with the passage.

 

[John Mullally]

Not one text in the OT is identified in Acts 15 as "cancelled".

Some folks have not noticed that there is no place in the OT where gentiles are commanded to be circumcised in order to be saved. That is never commanded them in OT or NT. Even the non-Christian Jews in Acts 13 did not "invent that idea" for Gentile converts attending their Sabbath services.

Heb 10 tells us that animal sacrifices ended - but that is because they pointed to the sacrifice of Christ -- they were predictive.

Heb 7 tells us that the Levitical priesthood ended at the cross - with Christ taking on His role as our High priest.

You recognize scriptures that end the practice of animal sacrifices and the Levitical priesthood. Acts 15:23-29 shuts off the need to keep many Jewish ceremonial laws for Gentile believers - including Keeping the Sabbath. Paul repeats this truth in Acts 21:24-25 years later.

Acts 15:23 They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell.​

Some object to Acts 15:23-29 for being incomplete because it does not address moral law (like do not kill, steal, lie, covet, and dishonor God). Acts 15:23-29 is a landmark decision that addresses an aggressive and troublesome demand for Gentile believers to keep the Mosaic laws. Moral laws were not the problem for the Gentile believers - as they are understood by conscience. The problem is that the Judaizers were demanding Gentile believers keep a myriad of Jewish ceremonial laws (i.e. laws given to the Jews that are not discoverable by conscience). The Judaizers were in effect demanding the Gentile believers convert to Judaism. The Apostles debated this problem and wrote a letter addressing it and sent it to the Gentile believers ASAP.

The letter from the Apostles identifies the offense from Judaizers, and gives the Gentile believers simple instructions to resolve the issue entirely. The Gentile believers are told to abstain from 3 things covered by Jewish ceremonial laws and to abstain from sexual immorality (which is a moral law). The rest of the Jewish ceremonial laws (including Keeping the Sabbath) do not apply to them because they are not listed. Again, the letter does not mention most Moral Laws (because they are understood by the conscience and were not deemed necessary to address) - as that was the Apostles decision.

A universal understanding of sexual immorality has always been a little difficult - so it is commonly a topic of discussion.

 

[DamianWarS]

When did this thread move away from the context of the Sabbath in Mat 24? Does anyone care to keep the topic or are we all agenda driven to argue our sabbath points until the thread gets shut down?

 

[BobRyan]

You recognize scriptures that end the practice of animal sacrifices and the Levitical priesthood.

Indeed Heb 10 say "he takes away the first to establish the second" when it comes to the animal sacrifices vs Christ' sacrifice.

Heb 7 says "change in priest means a change in the law regarding the priesthood" for establishing Christ's high priestly ministry in heaven.

Nothing like that is in Acts 15.

Acts 15 is referencing made-up man-made tradition invented by Christian Jews that not even the non-Christian Jews were making up. It is not dealing with cancelling scripture.

Acts 15:23-29 shuts off the need to keep many Jewish ceremonial laws

The Ten Commandments are included in the moral law of God applicable to all mankind as Bible scholars all major Christian denominations admit including the Baptist Confession of faith. Nothing in the Acts 15 text addresses any commandment ever given to a gentile in the OT.

for Gentile believers - including Keeping the Sabbath. Paul repeats this truth in Acts 21:24-25 years later.

No one in Acts 15 or Acts 21 mentions that keeping the Sabbath is no longer applicable. So it is not surprise that your statement above is the only "text" we find with that idea in it -- you don't quote anything in Acts 15 or 21 having it.

Acts 15:23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
​

A good example of NOT saying that the entire Bible had been downsized to just 5 sentences.
A good example of NOT including "do not take God's name in vain"
A good example of NOT including "honor your father and mother" which Paul insists is still applicable to gentiles in Eph 6:2 since it is in the unit of TEN as "the first commandment WITH a promise".

A good example of NOT including "Love your neighbor as yourself" Lev 19:18 which we see specifically referenced in James 2, and in Rom 13.

Acts 15 does not work as a delete commandments rule since the NT authors themselves do not follow such an idea.

​

Some object to Acts 15:23-29 for being incomplete because it does not address moral law (like do not kill, steal, lie, covet, and dishonor God). Acts 15:23-29 is a landmark decision that addresses an aggressive and troublesome demand for Gentile believers to keep the Mosaic laws. Moral laws were not the problem for the Gentile believers - as they are understood by conscience. The problem is that the Judaizers were demanding Gentile believers keep a myriad of Jewish ceremonial laws (i.e. laws given to the Jews that are not discoverable by conscience).

Not true at all. We see gentiles in synagogues "Every Sabbath" in Acts 13, Acts 18:4 Acts 17 etc and this is also pointed out in Acts 15 as part of their solution logic. There is not one word in Acts 15 about "only those things that gentiles can know without our introducing them to scripture". Not one word. We cannot simply "insert it".

The Judaizers were in effect demanding the Gentile believers convert to Judaism.

True -- but nothing in the OT said gentiles had to become Jews to be saved ... so the NT church had no scripture at all backing up what the Judaising Christian Jews were making up. Rules that even the non-Christian Jews did not make up.

The Gentile believers are told to abstain from 3 things covered by Jewish ceremonial laws and to abstain from sexual immorality (which is a moral law).

You have undercut your own argument. Sexual immorality is in theory something gentiles know about even without reading the OT scripture and yet it is mentioned in Acts 15. It is incorrect to claim that gentiles knew everything in scripture that applies to them without reading scripture. This was never an argument made by any NT author.

The rest of the Jewish ceremonial laws (including Keeping the Sabbath) do not apply to them because they are not listed.

Not true since some of the other moral laws DO get listed for gentiles in other places in the NT and there is nothing in Acts 15 about anything in the OT applied to gentiles - no longer applying to them.

You are using extreme inference to insert rules into Acts 15 that are never mentioned in the text and don't fit the statements in the NT that mention the very commandments you claim do not need to be mentioned. Then add a rule of your own of the form "whatever is not repeated in acts 15 is to be deleted".

No wonder Bible scholars on BOTH sides of the Sabbath debate reject that idea and argue for all TEN of the TEN Commandments as applicable to all mankind.

Bible details matter.

As noted here

Is 66:23 in the NEW Earth - long after the cross -- "from Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL MANKIND come before Me to worship"

In the NT long after Christ went to heaven "they met EVERY Sabbath" Acts 18:4 for Gospel preaching and worship - for both gentiles and Jews.

IN the NT "what matters is KEEPING the commandments of God" Acts 17:11 where "The FIRST commandment with a promise" is "Honor your father and mother" Eph6:2 - in that still-valid unit of ten.

In the NT "SIN IS transgression of the Law" 1 John 3:4 and in that context we are told to "Sin not" 1 John 2:1

=====================

The scriptural grounds for this above are so clear and obvious - that almost all Bible scholars in every major Christian denomination affirm the TEN commandments as still applicable for mankind.

D.L. Moody
Baptist Confession of Faith sectn 19
Westminster Confession of Faith section 19
Catholic Catechism
C.H. Spurgeon
R.C. Sproul
Dies Domini by Pope John Paul II.
.. numerous others from every major denomination

 

[Clare73]

This is a grammatical fact that can not be contested honestly.

What cannot be contested honestly is:

Hebrews 3:7-4:11 where in 4:7-11, as God rested from the work of creation, the believer ceases his efforts to gain salvation by his own works and rests in the finished work of Christ on the cross. (Hebrews 4:10)

Canaan was God's promised rest from their enemies (Joshua 1:13; Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 12:9-10, Deuteronomy 25:19) into which rest they refused to go (Numbers 14), and which God swore an oath in his anger, "They shall never enter my rest," (Hebrews 3:11, 3:18, 4:3), which is his full-time rest from his creation work (Hebrews 4:3-4).
But there still remains, apart from Canaan's promised rest, a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:6-9).
The NT believer enters "another" (Hebrews 4:8) Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-11); i.e., God's own ("my," Hebrews 3:11, 4:1, 3, 5, 10) full-time (Hebrews 4:3-4) rest, in the believer's full-time salvation rest by faith (Hebrews 4:10-11).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17), including the Sabbath, in whom we rest from our own work to save, and in his work which saves.

Feel free to exegete Hebrews 3:7-4:11, accounting for
1) Christian Hebrews being instructed to enter their Sabbath rest (4:1),
2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8) in relation to the Sabbath,
3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4) and
4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
all in consistency with the passage.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Because Jesus was, born, lived, preached and died under the Old Covenant.

Jesus is the Mediator of God's New Covenant and was born, lived, preached, died under the New Covenant.

Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The New Covenant started in the Old Testament Jeremiah 31:33 which has not changed and is verbatim in the New Testament Hebrews 8:10

Jesus came to show us how to live and how we can overcome temptation and sin. He is our example to follow. 1 Peter 2:21-22, 1 John 2:6. He also died for our sins when we repent and turn from sin Acts 2:38 and walk with Him in obedience through faith and love. Romans 3:31, Revelation 14:12, 1 John 5:3. John 14:14

Jesus commissioned the apostles to observed everything He commanded, which is why the apostles taught on the Sabbath going to the Temples every Sabbath just like Jesus did as our example, preaching the Word of God, reading the scriptures, prayer, to Jews, Gentiles and whole cities. Luke 4:16, Acts 18:4, Acts 13:44, Acts 13:42 etc,

We receive the gospel rest in Christ when we cease from our works as God did from His which is on the seventh day Sabbath. Hebrews 4:10, Hebrews 4:4, Genesis 2:1-3 which is why keeping the Sabbath is for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9

 

[Clare73]

Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Agreed. . .

Feel free to exegete Hebrews 3:7-4:11, accounting for
1) Christian Hebrews being instructed to enter their Sabbath rest (4:1),
2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8) in relation to the Sabbath,
3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4) and
4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
all in consistency with the passage.

 

[Clare73]

This is a grammatical fact that can not be contested honestly.

What cannot be contested honestly is:

Hebrews 3:7-4:11 where in 4:7-11, as God rested from the work of creation, the believer ceases his efforts to gain salvation by his own works and rests in the finished work of Christ on the cross. (Hebrews 4:10)

Canaan was God's promised rest from their enemies (Joshua 1:13; Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 12:9-10, Deuteronomy 25:19) into which they refused to go (Numbers 14), and which God swore an oath in his anger, "They shall never enter my rest," (Hebrews 3:11, 3:18, 4:3), which is his full-time rest from his creation work (Hebrews 4:3-4).
But there still remains, apart from Canaan's promised rest, a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:6-9).
The NT believer enters "another" (Hebrews 4:8) Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-11); i.e., God's own ("my," Hebrews 3:11, 4:1, 3, 5, 10) full-time (Hebrews 4:3-4) rest, in the believer's full-time salvation rest by faith (Hebrews 4:10-11).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17), including the Sabbath, in whom we rest from our own work to save, and in his work which saves.

Feel free to exegete Hebrews 3:7-4:11, accounting for
1) Christian Hebrews being instructed to enter their Sabbath rest (4:1),
2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8) in relation to the Sabbath,
3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4) and
4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
all in consistency with the passage.

 

[John Mullally]

Indeed Heb 10 say "he takes away the first to establish the second" when it comes to the animal sacrifices vs Christ' sacrifice.

Heb 7 says "change in priest means a change in the law regarding the priesthood" for establishing Christ's high priestly ministry in heaven.

Nothing like that is in Acts 15.

Acts 15 is referencing made-up man-made tradition invented by Christian Jews that not even the non-Christian Jews were making up. It is not dealing with cancelling scripture.

Acts 15:23-29 does not mention made-up man-made tradition - it references which portions of the Mosaic law that Gentile believers are required to keep. The Acts 15:23-29 letter was written to Gentile believers who were not particularly educated or knowledgeable of Jewish law. In verse 24 we see the Apostles opposing those saying “You must be circumcised and keep the law” - there is no mention of made-up man-made laws in Acts 15:23-29 as you state. So ironically you made that up.

How do verses 28-29 in particular make sense to you - why are the Gentile believers only required to keep four for the most part minor sections of the Mosaic law? Are you still clinging to the position that the 10 commandments given by Moses are not a part of the Mosaic laws - even though Jewish scholars disagree with you.

I have given you my answer, which you reject. How do you think the Gentile believers understood it? Or do you think the letter is unintelligible?

Acts 15:23 They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell.​

 

[eleos1954]

Because Jesus was, born, lived, preached and died under the Old Covenant.
We have a new command under the New Covenant, obedience to which is the complete fulfillment of the law "and whatever other commandment there may be." (Romans 13:8-10)

Feel free to exegete Hebrews 3:7-4:11, accounting for
1) Christian Hebrews being instructed on Sabbath rest (4:1),
2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8),
3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4) and
4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
in consistency with the passage.

Obedience to the law is nothing new.

The "new covenant" is the old covenant RENEWED.

The New Testament does not preach a new gospel. Galatians 1:6–9 and Hebrews 4:2 make it abundantly clear that there is only one gospel. To make a radical distinction between the “old” and “new” covenants would be to create two separate methods of salvation—one through the law and the other through grace.

Paul forcefully argues in 2 Timothy 3:14, 15, “Continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (NKJV).

The Scriptures to which Paul refers include the Old Testament. Thus the Old Testament is the basis for salvation— and “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (v. 16).

The covenant that God offered to His people throughout history is the same everlasting covenant. But just as each person experiences that covenant individually, internalizing it into one’s heart and soul, that covenant becomes new with each new person and generation.

Thus in the great faith chapter of Hebrews 11, which comes after the description of the new covenant in Hebrews 8, we find listed those men and women who experienced that covenant grace of God by faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab—even Rahab who was not then a descendant of Abraham—and others became heir to the promise through faith, each discovering anew the wonderful, experiential, everlasting covenant in the history of God’s faithful initiation of love and grace among His people.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Agreed. . .

Feel free to exegete Hebrews 3:7-4:11, accounting for
1) Christian Hebrews being instructed to enter their Sabbath rest (4:1),
2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8) in relation to the Sabbath,
3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4) and
4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
all in consistency with the passage.

I am assuming you agree that Jesus was not born under the Old Covenant, but the New Covenant. If so, this appears to be our first agreement.

1) Christian Hebrews being instructed to enter their Sabbath rest (4:1),

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

Yes, we do not want to fall short of entering into the rest in Christ which is shown how we do that in Hebrews 4:10

Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

So one must cease from their work to enter His rest just like God did from His. When does God cease from His works? This very passage tells us:

Hebrews 4:4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;

This really cannot be more clearer- so we must cease from our works as God did on the seventh day. So it is not "every day" we enter into His rest, it is on the seventh day. The seventh day is the Sabbath according to God Exodus 20:10 so we enter His rest when we keep the Sabbath just like Hebrews 4:9 tells us to.

2) references to Canaan (3:8-9, 15-18, 4:2, 6, 8) in relation to the Sabbath,

These are references to the rebellion of the Israelites who did not enter into the rest in Christ due to their disobedience and rebellion. What did they disobey? The Sabbath

Ezekiel 20:13 Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

3) God's full-time rest from his creation work (4:3-4)

The scripture does not support your statement

Hebrews 4:3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;

This could not be more clearer.

4) another Sabbath rest of "Today" remaining for the people of God (4:7-9)
all in consistency with the passage

It does not say another Sabbath rest of "Today" so I would be careful of adding our words to the scripture.

Hebrews 4:7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

The verse says "Today if you hear His voice" not today is the Sabbath rest. This is a repeat from Hebrews 3:7-8 to not harden our hearts to rebellion. We should not wait another day to obey God.

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Rest here is sabbatismos which literally means keeping of the Sabbath. So this verse says there remains a keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God.

σαββατισμὸς (sabbatismos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4520: A keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest.

There is no scripture that says we can break the Sabbath commandment and Hebrews 4 is telling us that we need to keep the Sabbath for the people to God and the Sabbath is the door to enter into the rest in Christ when we cease from our works on the seventh day Exodus 20:8-11 just like God did from the foundation of the world Genesis 2:1-3 which God said three times He rested from His work on the seventh day which Hebrews 4:4 is a reference to.