“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” . . . knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(Luke 22:20 and 1 Peter 1:18-19)

   The well-known words from the Lord’s Supper in Luke 22:20 remind us that the glorious riches of grace found in the new covenant are all provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, as He died on the cross for us. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Customarily, we think of forgiveness of sins when we hear these words. Forgiveness is certainly included in the blessings secured by the death of our Lord. Notice, however, that Jesus did not say “this cup is forgiveness in My blood.” He said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.”

 The new covenant is far more than forgiveness of sins. As previously indicated, the Scriptures reveal that the new covenant has three basic areas of blessings. First is the forgiveness of sins. “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Second is an intimate relationship with the Lord. “All shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them” (Hebrews 8:11). Third is an internal work of God producing an increasingly godly life in and through us. “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10). The word of God further confirms that all of these grand blessings depend upon God’s provision, not our performance. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

   How can it be that such measureless spiritual abundance becomes ours through the new covenant of grace? Well, consider the amazing and effective redemption price paid to establish this new covenant. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ.” This new covenant was not purchased with limited earthly wealth, like silver and gold. Rather, it was paid for by infinite heavenly treasure, the blood of Christ. No wonder the new covenant provides such amazing and effective resources for all who depend upon the One who died for them.

Failed attempt by unbelievers to seize the power of Jesus Christ to use to cast out demons.

The Seven Sons of Sceva

Acts 19:13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

The seven sons of Sceva wrongly thought that their merely invoking the name of Lord Jesus Christ and the nme of Paul was all they needed to have power over demons. They were wrong. The sons of Sceva did not believe, know nor have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through faith in His name. therefore, the demon knew they had no authority over it and overcame the seven sons of Sceva by brute force.

Only true Christians are indwelt by the the Father, Son and Holy spirit and win against evil spirits, who win against everyone else. To be indwelt by the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is through faith in Jesus Christ the only Saviour appointed by God through whom all that believe will be saved.

Only Christians can put on the helmet of salvation. No one can be saved through relying on relatives, pastors, denominations, rituals, man-made doctrines that contradict scriptures, founders of religious orders, turning one’s life over to Christ, or by making a choice, or inviting Jesus into one’s hearts, or on the basis of having testimony of having been delivered from some particular besetting vice.

By saying, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" (Acts 19:15) before attacking the seven sons of Sceva, the evil spirit in effect acknowledged the power of Jesus and inferred that it couldn't win against someone like Paul, who was indwelt and protected by the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Beware the false teachers who in error claim believers are indwelt only by the Holy Spirit, because Lord Jesus is a man supposedly confined in heaven to make intercession before God and can’t hear the prayers of His people on earth. The trinity consists of three equal persons, God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ who is fully man without ceasing to be God, and God the Holy Spirit eternally, inseparably united in one Godhead. They permanently indwell all believers at the moment of salvation: Jhn 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 Gal 3:28nThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Col 1:27 - To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

 1Co 3:17

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 Jhn 14:17

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.

Anyone without the helmut of salvation has no weapon whatsoever from God, because God only fully arms those who have been saved through Jesus Christ alone and not by works. Some claim their repentance saved them, but even that came through the mercy of God:  Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?