The Gift

The Jews made a covenant with God at Mount Sinai. God gave them his law. The Jews count that there are 613 commandments in the law. They covenanted to keep all of them.

Exodus 24:3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

The Jews look at this covenant as a marriage covenant with God. Just as the bride says, “I do,” the Jewish people said, “We do.”

God recognizes this covenant as his marriage covenant with the Jewish people. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God refers to the covenant he made when he brought them out of Egypt and refers to himself as their husband.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Here God speaks of making a new covenant with Israel. We know the new covenant to be the gospel.

While the covenant of the law is God’s justice, his covenant of the gospel is a covenant of mercy. “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Just as the covenant of the law was a marriage covenant, the covenant of the gospel is also a marriage covenant. Those that have obeyed the gospel become part of the bride of Christ.

The Jews say that God has a gift for those that enter into the marriage covenant of the law. This gift is the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is a day of physical rest for the Jewish people. It is a day that they spend devoted to prayer and study of God’s word. It is to be a day of peace. The greeting often said on the Sabbath is, “Shabbat Shalom,” which is Hebrew for “Sabbath Peace.”

God has a gift for those that enter into the marriage covenant of the gospel. This gift is the Holy Ghost.

While the rest of the Sabbath is one day a week, the rest of the Holy Ghost is twenty-four hours, seven days a week. It is a rest that you do not have to say goodbye to at the end of the day.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When a person enters into the covenant of the law, it is said that person takes on the “yoke” of the commandments.

When God took on the form of man to bring the new covenant of the gospel, he brought a new yoke. Instead of the written law of justice, of 613 commandments, God writes his law of love and forgiveness in our hearts. By the Holy Ghost, God’s Spirit within, Jesus teaches us and brings his word to our mind.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

While the Sabbath has its peace, the gift of the Holy Ghost brings the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guarding[ your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace that the covenant of the gospel gives, is the peace of reconciliation back to God through his perfect sacrifice of his flesh, “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

[NLT: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.]

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the presence of Jesus within us, who is with us always. The gift of the Holy Ghost is like a well of water springing up into everlasting life. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory. (John 4:14, 1 Peter 1:8).

Because of God’s perfect sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world, those that have repented of their sins and have been baptized in Jesus name can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost – Jesus within.

Under the covenant of the law, the offerings of bulls and goats could not take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4). Because sin wasn’t taken away, God could not dwell within his people. His Spirit could be upon them and with them, but not in them, until God came and brought the new covenant. By the new covenant of forgiveness, all may know God by the infilling of the gift of his Holy Ghost. “For they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34b)

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament [“covenant”], which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

We turn our life to Jesus, apply the blood he shed for us and receive remission of sins by water baptism in Jesus name. This is how we enter into the new covenant. We become part of the bride of Christ. Because we enter into this marriage covenant, Jesus has a gift for us: the gift of his Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.