A Change of Covenants
Dearly beloved of God, Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new covenant that God made with Israel. It is a spirit based covenant. Jeremiah prophesied about it in Jeremiah 31:27-34, and this is quoted in Hebrews 8:8-13. The new covenant is discussed in Hebrews, chapters 7-10.
The book of Hebrews informs us that “Jesus Christ was made a surety [a guarantor] of a better covenant.”
The old covenant of the law pertained to the flesh, and it was imposed on Israel until the time of reformation. This reformation refers to the restoration of the relationship between God and man.
The new covenant began with the pouring out of the spirit on the Feast of Pentecost after Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and seating in the heavenly realm at God’s right hand.
Jesus Christ foretold that he would send the promise of the Father upon them. They were to “tarry in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.”
John the Baptist foretold that Jesus Christ would baptize them with the holy spirit.
Jesus Christ told his disciples to “wait for the promise of the Father, which, “saith he, “you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the holy spirit not many days hence.”
Jesus Christ said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the holy spirit is come upon you.”
Acts 2:1-4 informs us, “Then they were all filled with holy spirit, and they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them [the words] to speak.” WT
The twelve apostles received the holy spirit, and the proof was that they spoke words as the Spirit gave them the words to speak.
“All of them [the people present at the feast] were amazed and very perplexed, and they said to one another, “What is the meaning of this?” Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in response to their question.
During the times of the old covenant of the law, very few people had the spirit of God upon them, but in the new covenant all of God’s people receive the gift of holy spirit, and the remission of sins.
Acts 2:17 and 18 WT
17 And it will be in the last days, says God, I shall pour out of My spirit on all flesh [kinds of people], and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams,
18 and even on My male and female servants I shall pour out of My spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Sons and daughters, young and old, male and female, servants and handmaidens would receive the spirit from God, and they would prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams. That’s quite a change from Moses in his generation, or Joshua, or Elijah in their generations having the spirit from God upon them.
Acts 2:38
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 [Holy Spirit].
Acts 10 and 11 inform us that God made the spirit available to the Gentiles, and they received the same holy spirit as the twelve, and the about 3,000 Judeans received on the Day of Pentecost.
Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His [the] promise in Christ by the gospel:
The Gentiles and Judeans were joint heirs, they were joint members of the same body and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus by the gospel.
Anyone and everyone who confessed the Lord Jesus and believed that God raised them from the dead were saved, and they received the remission of sins and the gift of holy spirit.
Everyone of the children of God receives the same spirit. All have the same Lord, Jesus Christ. The same God energizes all things in all people.
Not only are these things true, but the manifestation of the spirit is given to each person for profit.
I Corinthians 12: 8-10 lists them by the profit each manifestation provides. The one and the same spirit energizes all these nine manifestations, distributing to each person individually even as he wills.
Galatians 3:6
Who [God] also hath made us able ministers of the new testament [covenant]; not of the letter [the law], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Under the old covenant of the law every man was guilty before God, and they came short of the glory of God, but in the new covenant they receive spirit life, eternal life.
Every child of God is born again of the spirit from God, they are sealed by the spirit for an inheritance, they receive spirit life, they have access by one spirit to the Father, they are strengthened by the spirit, and they are filled with the spirit. Read Ephesians.
God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by means of holy spirit, which has been given to us. We received the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and we have a spirit based relationship with God our Father. We are now the children of God, His heirs, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Read Romans 8.
Whenever we choose to manifest the spirit by speaking in tongues we have the proof of these things. God’s spirit witnesses to our inner being that they are true.
Rejoice, and give God thanks for His great love, mercy, and grace toward us in Christ Jesus! Every Christian receives the same spirit as a gift from God, and it enables every one of us with the ability to manifest it for godly profit. We have been endued with power from on high. Rejoice!