What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?

The exact phrase, the gift of the Holy Ghost, is used two times in the Bible. The first time is on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38Then 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.
See All...) and the second time is at the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10:45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
See All...). The Acts 10 passage further defines this gift as having "received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 10:47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
See All...). In the next chapter, Peter defines the event as being an extension of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as received on the day of Pentecost (Acts 11:15-16 [15] And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. [16] Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
See All...). So we know that the gift of the Holy Ghost is directly connected to the baptism with the Holy Ghost.

This baptism was promised in all four gospels and once in the first chapter of Acts (Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
See All...; Mark 1:8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
See All...; Luke 3:16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
See All...; John 1:33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
See All...; Acts 1:4-5 [4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
See All...). For instance, in Mark 1:8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
See All..., Christ said, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." In Acts 1:5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
See All..., immediately before Christ ascended up into heaven, He told the disciples that this event would occur "not many days hence." That is, it was an event that would occur at a particular time and place (since they were to wait for it in Jerusalem).

This event was also called "the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
See All...). They were instructed not to depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise there. Therefore, in Acts 1:4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
See All..., the gift of the Holy Ghost was something for which the disciples were to wait in Jerusalem because it would come not many days hence. In Peter's sermon to the Jews on the day of Pentecost (when the Holy Ghost came), he said, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
See All...). Here, he calls the baptism of the Holy Ghost by the name of "the promise of the Holy Ghost." And, he declares that they had received this promise from the Father. In other words, He had come and the gift had been given. They only needed to repent and be baptized in order to receive Him themselves. The baptism with the Holy Ghost is also called an enduing with power from on high (Luke 24:49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
See All...). The baptism itself was an event that occurred on a particular day in a particular place.

Further in the book of Acts, the baptism was extended to include those groups that were not included in the pentecostal experience found in Acts 2. In Acts 8:14-17 [14] Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: [16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
See All..., we see the Samaritan believers being included. In Acts 10:44-48 [44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
See All..., the Gentiles are brought into the blessing. And finally, in Acts 19:1-7 [1] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. [7] And all the men were about twelve.
See All..., the disciples of John the Baptist who did not know about the coming of Christ were brought into the baptism. Therefore, we can see that the baptism with the Holy Ghost was an event with several addendums to include all types of believers.

However, even though the baptism with the Holy Ghost as such was a historical event, that does not mean that it has no effect on us today. Two major changes in how God deals with believers were marked on the day of Pentecost. First, this event marked the coming of the Comforter promised by Jesus Christ (John 14:26But 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.
See All...; 15:27
See All...; 16:7
See All...; Acts 2:33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
See All...). The Comforter, being the Holy Ghost, has now taken the place of Jesus Christ in the work of God on earth. Second, the time of Pentecost began the time when the Holy Ghost indwells every true believer of Christ. The Spirit of God, who was WITH believers, is now IN believers (John 14:16-17 [16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
See All...). Today, if someone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
See All...). That is, he is not saved.

The great blessing of this is that all who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Saviour and are born again also have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. We do not have to be baptized. We do not have to speak in tongues. We do not have to wait. When we get saved, we have received the Spirit. All who are saved have the gift of the Holy Ghost. Praise the Lord!

Now, this does not mean that there is not more to the spiritual life than what we have at salvation. It is only that we do need more of the Holy Ghost as is often taught. Actually, the problem with the spiritual life of most believers is not that they need more of the Holy Ghost; the problem is that the Holy Ghost needs more of them. This is much of the meaning of being filled with the Spirit. He is in all believers, but most believers have not allowed Him to fill their lives.

In this dispensation, we are not commanded to seek the gift of the Holy Ghost. That teaching was made before the Holy Ghost was already given to every believer. Today, we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
See All...), to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
See All..., 25), and to be led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
See All...). We are never told to seek to speak in tongues. Even when tongues were a bonifide spiritual gift, all believers were not to speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
See All...).

Today, we need the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. However, the baptism with the Holy Ghost is not for us. It was the event brought on by the departure of Christ from earth. It brought the Holy Ghost to the earth as God's special presence here. As an event, it began the universal indwelling of every believer by God's Holy Spirit. As Jesus said during His earthly ministry:

John 7:38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
See All... He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Well, now Jesus IS glorified and the Holy Ghost IS given. We no longer wait to receive Him. And, if we allow Him to fill us, He will flow as rivers of living water out of our bellies. Thank the Lord for this precious gift.