A sergeant of police was pacing his beat one evening. A Christian young man, whose heart was burning with love to Christ, while passing along felt constrained to speak to him about his soul's salvation. Crossing the street, and putting his hand on his shoulder, he said, "Sergeant, I have just been thinking about you, and wondering if you know that your sins are forgiven."
"I don't think," was the reply, "that anyone can know that for certain."
"O! but I know that mine are forgiven."
"I think it great presumption in you to go that length. I would not dare to say that, and I am as good as you; I have done all the good I can to my fellow men; I go to a place of worship as often as duty permits; and never that I know of have I injured any one."
The Christian brother, observing that the sergeant was expecting to be saved by his works, replied somewhat to the following effect:
"You are on the wrong track altogether. You are hoping to be saved by your good doings, but that is not God's way of salvation. When He looked down from heaven He saw us all hopelessly bad and corrupt. He knew we could not save, or do anything to help to save ourselves. In love and pity He took our sins and laid them on Jesus, and all who believe on Him are saved."
Like a flash of lightning the truth burst into his soul. He perceived that all his sins had been laid on Christ, and that He had borne them in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)), and that through simply believing on Him he was saved.
"Aye," said he, "is that it? Were my sins laid on Another?" Bidding the young man "Goodnight," he hurried down a street, entered into the first passage, got on his knees, and thanked God for saving him. Years have passed, and he still seeks to tell others of God's gracious dealings with him.
Believe on Christ as the One who "finished" the sin-atoning work, and you will know that you are saved.