I was unsure that his example of using the idea of a new and old house was helpful, as I see the Old Testament as a continuation of The Promise coming to fulfillment through Jesus. As the restoration of man to God continues until the end of time.

Eden was destroyed by the disobedience of the first Adam and is being restored by the second Adam, Jesus,

This is a slight diversion from the original question which askes “is the old covenant still applicable” the answer to me is NO because The Christ has made it inferior.

Are the ten commandments still applicable, NO because they were given to expose mans sinful nature which they did, and the commandments in themselves could not save. The old was the beginning of the revelation of The Christ to the world from the very beginning of time.

The first sacrifice of blood was when God killed an animal to use its skin to clothe Adam and Eve. The final blood sacrifice was jesus, he was and is the one and only propitiation for all the sins of the world. No wonder he shouted in great agony “where are you Dad”, that must have been the worst moment in His life, the best must have been when he woke in the tomb.

In Matthew 22 v 37 to 40 Jesus shows us how to live, not by laws or ceremonies but by love.

When the Holy Spirit makes me aware of His presence in my worship, prayer, Bible study, conversations whatever I’m doing, that to me is the fulfillment that God promised, total freedom that demands my life my soul my all. I have no worries as to what I should be doing or not doing as my whole life is worked out in the every day things. Paul said to be constantly in prayer, that does not mean we walk round with our hands together and eyes closed as we would just bump into things, it means to be in communication with God 24/7 as Jesus was through Gods Spirit. He is our strength and our song.

Troubles will come as they must for us annoying Christians, but we don’t face them alone, in fact we say thank you and aare filled with joy. “do you find that easy Clive” no, but there is no alternative. Jesus asked his disciples “will you leave me also” Peter said “but to whom would we go to you have the words of eternal life.

Teaching in the Church and dare I say in theological establishments has set about what the Scribes and Sadducees did, that was to control by mixing up the Old with the New. Jesus said do not put the Good News in Old wine skins as it will destroy the wine skin(the Church) and it has and will continue to do. Jesus came to bring freedom to the world and we, the Church, you and I have the been given that responsibility, to set the prisoners free. Remember when Jesus said to the teachers of the law “you travel a great distance to make one convert and make him twice as wicked as yourselves.

Many times in my life people have suggested I should train to be a vicar, I laugh and say they would not have me as they would chain and shackle me to a doctrine spawned by the devil himself. The freedom I have is to precious to give to swine. However I work within the Church of England within its closeted walls, encouraging, teaching the truth and reaching out from behind the walls of secrets into the community I live in. I thank my Jesus that He set me free from the lies that imprisoned me for the best part of 25 years of my 30 year journey. Keep praying James that the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to you so that not only will you be free but your example will give release to the other 7 billion on His planet. Your bother in Christ Clive

Fascinating to see that this is so widely used a motto. This year I visited the imposing St Rumbold’s cathedral in Mechelen, Province of Antwerp, Flanders. The building was 320 years in construction! The 167m tower was never completed to its full height (a point allegedly noted by Pope John Paul II during his visit in 1985).

In the visitors book I wrote; “Nisi Dominus Frustra”