During the Napoleonic wars a man received his call for military service in the French army. He did not want to go, but there were no exemptions. It happened, however, that he had a very dear friend who graciously offered to go in his place. This friend became his substitute— joined a regiment in his name; even was eventually killed in action; and was buried on the battlefield.
Some months later the call went out for more men and by some strange twist the same man was drafted for the second time.
"But you cannot take me," he protested.
"Why not?" demanded the authorities.
"I am dead," he replied.
"You are not dead, you are alive and well."
"But I am dead," he insisted.
"You are mad. When did you die?"
He named the battle and the field.
"You talk like a madman," they cried.
But the man stuck to his point that he had been dead and buried some months.
"Consult the record and see if it is not so," he said.
The record was checked and it was found that the man was right; his name was recorded as inducted, moved to the war zone and there killed in action.
"Look here," said the officers, "you did not die; someone must have enlisted for you. It must have been your substitute that died."
"I know that, "replied the man, "my substitute did die in my stead. Now you cannot touch me. I died in that man. I go free. The law has no claim upon me."
They refused, however, to admit such evidence, and the case was carried to Napoleon. But the Emperor ruled that the man was right that he was dead and buried in the eyes of the law and that France had no further claim upon him.
This story may or may not be true, but one thing we know is true that Jesus Christ has suffered death for the sinner, and everyone that accepts Him is free from the law.