John 8:35 – But the slave will not remain in the house forever; the son remains for ever.
The ‘slave’ appears to refer to those under the law. In Hebrews 3:5-6, Moses is viewed as a household slave while Jesus is the Son. Paul also likens Israel to an infant who is no different than a slave (Galatians 4:1), and those who are of the law are called the children of Hagar -who is a slave (Galatians 4:23). With regards to sonship, we may understand this in light of the fact that those who believe in Jesus are born from above and are given the power to be children, or sons and daughters, of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; Galatians 3:26). As the children of God that have entered into the Kingdom by believing in Jesus, we will remain in the Kingdom forever.
Jesus being the fulfillment of all the law and the prophets brings all who will believe into the place of eternal glory; while those who want to remain under the law have not allowed the law to fulfill its purpose by bringing them to the better hope. In that the law and the prophets were shadows and types – a schoolmaster to bring all who would believe to the covenant God has made through His Son – they cannot possibly remain in the Kingdom when that which they put their trust in has been removed. (Galatians 3:12-13; Hebrews 8:13)
The removal of the Old Covenant by the New is not a replacement of one for the other, but rather the fulfillment of the Old so that the New may spring forth. The real issue is not an inheritance in God through the law, but rather through the promise God made to Abraham (Genesis 15:1-6); a promise that spoke of a single seed, which is Jesus (Galatians 3:16) – Who is the only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
