Question: Why does the apostle James use the title “Lord of Sabbath”?
Answer: James wrote by the Spirit of God to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. He includes unsaved ones in his Epistle. Its subject is practical righteousness. In Chapter 5:1-6, he is speaking against the wickedness of the rich men who were grinding the faces of the poor (Isa. 3:15), and defrauding their labors, and says their cries of distress under such tyranny, “are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath,” the great “Ruler over all,” Jehovah of Hosts. This is in keeping with the object of the Epistle, which contains truth alike applicable to Israel, or the Church.
Question: Please explain Heb. 6:1, especially, “Let us go on unto perfection.”
Answer: The Epistle to the Hebrews is occupied with Christ in contrast to Judaism, and we have Christ and His work unfolded to us. The rest is seen as but shadows which were the beginning of the doctrine or teaching, from which we must go on to what belongs to full growth.
The things mentioned in verses 1, 2, are as far as Judaism could give them. Verses 4, 5, are things belonging to Christianity.
It would be to profit if we could follow this out through the chapters and in reading the Epistle, it is well to keep this in view.
Prophets and angels, Moses, Joshua and David; the Aaronic priest must all give way to Christ. He was to be a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. An earthly altar to give place to a Spiritual one, so the place of worship is within the veil. The many sacrifices that could never put away sins, pass away, and give place to the one great sacrifice that put away sin so perfectly, that every believer stands before God in its perfection. (Heb. 10:4, 12, 14, 17.) It could not be repeated.
The Son of God has accomplished it all, and is now a man living and glorified in God's presence.
To go on unto perfection, is to learn everything in the light of Himself as God and man, and to know that He is the one in whom we are accepted. There is no thought of what is commonly spoken of as sinless perfection, till Christ comes and claims His Church; then we shall be in all His perfection: spirit, soul and body.