What Would Stop a "Once Saved, Always Saved" Believer From Committing Suicide?
Hello Everyone,
I apologize if this is a topic that has already been debated to death. I did a topic search on both "Once Saved, Always Saved" as well as the subject of suicide, but I didn't find the specifics of what I was hoping people could answer.
I grew up in a church that does not believe in Once Saved, Always Saved, but several people whom I currently know and highly respect believe in this teaching, and their influence has led me to try to study it as in-depth as possible.
If a person believes that nothing they can do will compromise their salvation, what would keep them from committing suicide, if they came to that point? Would they refrain because God commands us not to kill?
And what about, what I personally call, "The Saul Dilemma"--in the Bible, King Saul opted to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of his enemies and be subjected to their torture (1 Samuel 31).
If you had the option of killing yourself vs. falling into the hands of your enemies (or, let's say, a long-term, painful, and terminal illness), what would you do?
Am I understanding correctly, or would someone who believes in Once Saved, Always Saved be at peace with the thought of killing themselves, and yet still making it to heaven?
(I'm asking because this is the complete opposite of what I was taught as a child--we were told that suicide was pretty much a guaranteed ticket to hell, although they did say that in the end, only God knows.)
I am very new to the Once Saved, Always Saved teaching, so I apologize if any of my questions seem naive or out of place. However, I have not found a clear answer to these issues in my studies and would appreciate any input you may have.
Thank you, and God bless.
Hello Everyone,
I apologize if this is a topic that has already been debated to death. I did a topic search on both "Once Saved, Always Saved" as well as the subject of suicide, but I didn't find the specifics of what I was hoping people could answer.
I grew up in a church that does not believe in Once Saved, Always Saved, but several people whom I currently know and highly respect believe in this teaching, and their influence has led me to try to study it as in-depth as possible.
If a person believes that nothing they can do will compromise their salvation, what would keep them from committing suicide, if they came to that point? Would they refrain because God commands us not to kill?
And what about, what I personally call, "The Saul Dilemma"--in the Bible, King Saul opted to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of his enemies and be subjected to their torture (1 Samuel 31).
If you had the option of killing yourself vs. falling into the hands of your enemies (or, let's say, a long-term, painful, and terminal illness), what would you do?
Am I understanding correctly, or would someone who believes in Once Saved, Always Saved be at peace with the thought of killing themselves, and yet still making it to heaven?
(I'm asking because this is the complete opposite of what I was taught as a child--we were told that suicide was pretty much a guaranteed ticket to hell, although they did say that in the end, only God knows.)
I am very new to the Once Saved, Always Saved teaching, so I apologize if any of my questions seem naive or out of place. However, I have not found a clear answer to these issues in my studies and would appreciate any input you may have.
Thank you, and God bless.