Two Americans whom I have known to be gospel preachers labored extensively in the Philippines even before I obeyed the gospel of Christ in 1975. My respect for these Americans is beyond words. Therefore, if I mention names (theirs and their Filipino counterparts) here, I do not mean anything personal; it is out of love. The primary purpose of this article is to help those who are affected and warn the brethren who may not know the danger of the doctrine now widely spread in the Philippines. This is the doctrine of One Eternal Covenant, coated with God's Eternal Covenant of Salvation. Those who continue to accept this false doctrine will soon know many doctrines contrary to the truth. This is not a review of many doctrines, but an attempt to present the One-Eternal-Covenant doctrine, in a simple way, so that brethren may see that it is false.

A Faithful Child of God Must Follow the Bible.

When the apostle Paul learned of those who "concerning the truth have erred. ... and overthrow the faith of some" (2 Timothy 2:18), he named Hymenaeus and Philetus. Twenty-first-century Christians must do the same to safeguard the faith once, for all time, delivered to the saints. I also feel duty-bound to mention names of a few who are actively promoting some disturbing doctrines. These are: Jim Puterbaugh, Wallace Little, Nehemias "Gambot" Hayuhay, Ernesto "Erning" Canon, Alfredo "Onyo" Gabucayan, Jr., and others.

I have observed that those in this group are not united in what they teach and believe. In this respect, I humbly suggest that those who might be approached by any of them or their company lovingly ask the following questions:

1. Is it true that God has made only one eternal covenant with man?
   
   
2. Is it true that the New Covenant is a continuation of the Old Covenant?
   
   
3. Is it true that the Ten Commandments did not end at the cross?
   
   
4. Is it true that SIN, and not any law, was nailed to the cross?
   
   
5. Is it true that Christians are permitted to eat blood?
   
   
6. Is it true that Paul shows in Galatians 3:8 that God preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?
   
   
7. Is it true that the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ are the same law?
   
   
8. Is it true that Jeremiah 31:31-34 deals with the Jews' return from Babylonian captivity?

Secret Encroachment.

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, the word encroach means "to advance gradually beyond due limits." Every faithful soul must take heed to the instructions Paul gave the elders of the Ephesian church of Christ when he said: "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:30)

Promoters of false doctrine are secretly encroaching on congregations, not telling their true identity, but deceiving the brethren into believing they are true preachers of peace and love. Paul told Timothy: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4) May faithful Christians "search the scriptures daily" whether the things preached to them "are so" and be able to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Acts 17:11; Jude 3) Don't be deceived; the devil uses many instruments and agents.

Erroneous Teachings to Watch.

This is not a review of a certain book, article, or doctrine in its entirety, but a presentation of some simple ways to discern erroneous teachings now disturbing and dividing some congregations of God's people in the Philippines. Such teachings include:

• One Eternal Covenant or God's Everlasting Covenant with Man.
  
  
• The Ten Commandments Not Nailed to the Cross.
  
  
• Christ Nailed Sin, Not Any Law, to the Cross.
  
  
• Some of the Old Testament Law Was Nailed to the Cross. (I do not know what was truly nailed to the cross--sin or some of the Old Testament Laws.)
  
  
• God Preached to Abraham the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION of Christ. (If this teaching be true, I cannot see any reason for Paul to write Ephesians 3:3-11.)
  
  
• The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ are the Same Law. (If this teaching is true, I do not understand what Paul said in Romans 7:1-7.)
  
  
• Covenant Continuity.
  
  
• And many others that may be related to their doctrine and must be earnestly watched, for heaven's sake.
  
  

Though there are other possible erroneous teachings that may come because of the One-Eternal-Covenant doctrine, those mentioned will suffice to safeguard our salvation. For the moment, we will study Covenant Continuity, and possibly touch on their other doctrines as we go on.

Concerning Wallace H. Little's "My Covenant Article," Segment # 1, particularly number 95, in an e-mail dated 19 February 2001, after writing many things, he said: "Again, there is no subject in the Bible more discussed than God's covenant with and for man. This is salvation! It is as important as that, and it is important for us to consider it, because without understanding the covenant, our Christianity is at best, a shallow thing. We miss the fact of COVENANT CONTINUITY (capitalization by the writer), and what we have today is exactly what the faithful ancients had. They knew of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. True, they did not know it was to be by crucifixion, since it was not generally introduced until the Romans introduced it about 300 B.C. But they did know the gospel as we know it." I hope this quotation gives a general idea of the entire system of this erroneous teaching and that they will safeguard their souls.

Simply stated, if Covenant Continuity is true, it disproves:

• That God has two covenants.
  
  
• That there is an Old Covenant and a New Covenant.
  
  
• That there is a First Covenant and a Second Covenant.
  
  
• That there was a Law of Moses and there is a Law of Christ.
  
  

They might accuse me of misrepresenting their teachings by saying: "We do believe those four statements, but each is just a continuation of the other." I'm sure my God will help me prove that this is their deceiving tactic. Though it is not possible, because of space limitations, for me to include in this article everything God said about these statements, I hope what is presented here will help each and every soul.

Hebrews 8:7-8

"For if the first covenant had been faultless, then should not place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them, he saith. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah." It is needless for me to explain this passage, for it is plain and simple; but notice the words FIRST and SECOND, then the word NEW.

It is a blasphemy to the Holy Spirit who guided the Hebrew writer to write "I will make a new covenant" to twist the truth and make it read "I will make a renewed covenant." In Little's "Two Basic Errors" (Gospel Truths - May 1997, p. 15) column 2, number 6, he said:

"A careful study of the Old and New Testaments shows each mention of a new covenant references a renewing of the existing one..."

One should also remember that this is a quotation in part of Jeremiah 31:31-34. But Wallace H. Little's "My Covenant Article," Segment # 1, commenting on Jeremiah 31:31-34, ONE of number 75, partly he said:

"Jeremiah's (re)'new'(ed) covenant would have the return from Babylonian captivity ('the north country') as the historical memorial event that this symbolizes."

If Jeremiah 31:31-34 referred to the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity, things that were to happen would have already happened; and why did the Hebrew writer quote the passage? What is his purpose? Can anybody help this writer?

Hebrews 8:13

"In that He saith, a new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." Please notice again the word NEW, the phrase FIRST OLD, and the phrase WHICH DECAYETH AND WAXETH OLD. Now watch what Paul said was READY TO VANISH AWAY. Paul (believed to be the writer of the Hebrew letter) could have easily suited the teaching of our friends by saying: "...Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to BE RENEWED." But he did not say that. It is perversion to propose that it means that. Paul said: "...Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." "READY TO VANISH AWAY." I am very interested to know whether the Hebrew or Greek word(s) for vanish or vanish away is the same Hebrew or Greek word(s) for renew, renewal, or renewing. This writer is only a very poor Filipino who does not know much Hebrew and Greek. Will someone help him?

Hebrews 10:9

"Then said He, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." I would like us to notice the following: "He TAKES AWAY the FIRST that He may ESTABLISH the SECOND."

Take away - first; establish second. Take away - establish. First - second.

A casual reader of the Bible can easily see what the passage means by "takes away the first" and "establish the second." It takes a long route to get to "He takes away the first that He may renew it to become the second." Takes away is not hard to understand.

If the teacher asks: "If you take away 5 from 5, how much is left," what is the answer? "Zero!"

If Christ asks: "Now that I have taken away the first covenant, how many covenants are left," someone will answer, "One renewed covenant Lord." Then Christ might ask: "Now that I have established the second covenant, how many covenants will there be?" That same somebody answers, "Still one renewed covenant Lord." What do you think the Lord will say to that somebody on Judgment Day? Christ took away the first; the Old Covenant was gone. Christ established the second; the New Covenant is in effect.

Conclusion

As a conclusion to this study, I would like to share some practical applications about changing and renewing contracts or agreements, hoping that it will help. I've gleaned this knowledge from being a law firm clerk for about eight years.

There is a great difference between changing a contract or agreement and renewing a contract or agreement. Realizing that human contracts and agreements are entirely different from divine contracts and agreements, I will try to make some applications that will not violate God's word.

It is my opinion that some elements necessary to both contracts and agreements are:

1. Contracting Parties.
   
   
2. Stipulations (benefits for obedience and punishments for disobedience).
   
   
3. Duration (how long will the contract or agreement last).
   
   

There might be some other elements, but those stated will suffice for our study. To change a contract or agreement, it is necessary to change one or all of the elements.

• If the Contracting Parties change, the contract must change, even if the Stipulations and Duration remain the same.
  
  
• If the Stipulations (benefits for the obedient and punishments for the disobedient) change, the entire contract must change, even if the Contracting Parties and the Duration are the same.
  
  
• If the Contracting Parties and the Stipulations are the same, but there is a need to EXTEND the Duration to a longer period, then the contract or agreement may be renewed.
  
  

I have not yet heard of renewing a contract or agreement when Contracting Parties and Stipulations are changed. I have heard of a renewal when the duration is extended for one reason or another. There might be some variation to this, but the principle underlying contract or agreement, in general, is the same.

When God changed the Old Testament Contracting Parties (Himself and the nation of Israel), to the New Testament Contracting Parties (Himself and individuals from all nations), He did not renew a covenant; He changed it. God also changed the Stipulations, particularly the punishment of the disobedient. Under the Old Covenant, the disobedient suffered physical death, which was immediate. Under the New Covenant, the disobedient will suffer spiritual punishment, beginning on Judgment Day. This is a change that necessitates a change of contract or agreement, even granting, without admitting, that benefits and duration are the same.

As part of this conclusion, this writer is calling on anybody who might think he is being misrepresented in this article. Please come out and have a serious, brotherly, loving discussion with me to test every doctrine and teaching whether it be of God. 1 Peter 3:15 says: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

On the other hand, this writer also realizes that there are men who fit the following: "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21)

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Brother Carpentero is one of the overseas men Knollwood helps. Sadly, some Americans have gone over to the Philippines and introduced these false teachings. During my previous two trips to the Philippines, I was asked questions concerning this teaching at places where I preached. Brother "Cip" is well-equipped to plainly discuss or debate the subject if those who teach it would be willing to do so. May God help good men such as brother Carpentero to continue to grow in the "grace and knowledge" of the truth and defend the gospel wherever it is challenged. (KMG)