Open and Shut Case

 

 

The evidence is clear

Only one verdict makes sense,

Jesus is the one and only way for all

Though to some, he is an offense.

 

A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense,

To them that stumble at the Word

He makes little sense.

 

Quoted in Isaiah 8:14

And referenced in 1 Peter 2:8,

A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense

Are indicative of a horrid fate.

 

To both houses of Israel

And for a snare to Jerusalem,

This prophecy has already been fulfilled

But is still causing problems.

 

 

Some are yet anticipating

A restoration of the nation Israel

And advocating rather vehemently

They are God’s chosen people.

 

God must therefore deliver

All that He has promised them

And so, the question of necessity arises

As to where and when.

 

Open in the Old Testament

At Genesis chapter 12 verse 2

And in verses 2 and 3 of this chapter

We have an early view.

 

In Abraham, the prophecy stated,

All nations will be blessed

And in the offering of Jesus Christ

This prophecy has stood the test.

 

Unto the Jew first, Jesus came

To turn them from their iniquity

And likewise, to the Gentile heathens

Thus, fulfilling prophecy.

 

Check Acts chapter 3:24-25

As it related to the children of Israel

And Galatians chapter 3 verse 8

As it pertains to all other people.

 

That Jesus is the only door

Is really an open and shut case

And he is such, not only to the Jews first,

But Gentiles in the second place.

 

This is not to argue a point

Of the Jews being more important

But that salvation was made available

To the truly repentant.

 

Whether Jew or Gentile

A wide and effective door was open

And in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile,

The penitent was forgiven.

 

That the blessing of Abraham

Be on the Gentiles through Christ

And that the Jews, including Paul himself,

Would receive the Spirit by faith.

 

“But we believe,” stated Paul,

That through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

He and other believing Jews

Shall be saved even as the Gentiles.

 

It is a Tora free Gospel,

That is, a Gospel without the Law,

Not for a chaotic and lawless people

For salvation is without a flaw.

 

 

It is an open and shut case

Where are those thine accusers?

Her attorney, the Christ, was present,

The Pharisees were the losers.

 

The accuser has been muted,

Who shall lay a claim against the elect?

An open and shut case, I dare say,

Jesus paid the debt.

 

“I am the door,” said he,

“If anyone enter in, he shall be saved.”

Over such the devil has no power

Though he may rant and rave.

 

The door has been swung wide open

For both the Gentile and the Jew,

All are in the fellowship of one body

Regardless of colour or hue.

 

Let no man therefore judge you,

Declared the Apostle Paul,

Jesus removed the ordinances against us:

Not some of them but all.  

 

Circumcised in Jesus Christ

Redeemed by his precious blood,

Approved by the Heavenly Father

And by the Spirit made good.

 

Now do you see what I mean

By an open and shut case?

All the evidence that Satan brought

Brought on his own disgrace.

 

 

The chains are unshackled

From our wrists and our feet

And both Gentile and Jew now worship

At their Saviour’s feet.

 

Having drunk of the same blood

And eaten of the same body,

We are all one in the Saviour, Christ Jesus

And this, for eternity.

 

God’s justice was served,

His wrath was appeased,

His mercy and grace showed up on time

And met our spiritual need.

 

Who therefore shall lay any thing

To the charge of God’s elect?

After all, it is God that justifies,

Not a religious leader or sect.

 

 

An open and shut case

No need to trouble the jurors,

Jesus by his divine intervention

Has rid us of all our accusers.

 

Where are those thine accusers?

Me thinks there are none,

Neither does Jesus condemn you,

And so, this matter is done.

 

Stewart Russell © March 30, 2024