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For me much of the stigma of suicide comes from the teaching and thoughts of other people and their religious doctrines. I can't imagine suicide being a good thing but neither can imagine what it was which drove your son to his decision, the pain, the suffering. Regardless, who am I to judge him? Especially since I cannot find anything conclusive in Torah regarding suicide. I figure if there was a conclusive answer you wouldn't need to ask such a question.
Torah states we are created in the image of God. What that means to me is it takes three to make a human being. A husband and wife concieves flesh and it is God who makes us in His image by giving us a soul or spirit, that thing which makes you, you. And though the flesh maybe gone I believe the soul lives on. Like it is written of the patriarches when they died, I think your son is with his people now and they with their Creator.
Torah states we are created in the image of God. What that means to me is it takes three to make a human being. A husband and wife concieves flesh and it is God who makes us in His image by giving us a soul or spirit, that thing which makes you, you. And though the flesh maybe gone I believe the soul lives on. Like it is written of the patriarches when they died, I think your son is with his people now and they with their Creator.
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Many theologians and religions adamantly have long dismissed any suggestion that the resurrection of the unrighteous may include those who commit suicide. As far as the ones who took their own lives, we humans cannot judge as to whether he will get a resurrection or not. I am only aware of four instances-in the Bible-where suicide is mentioned: 1 Samuel 31:17; 2 Samuel 17:23; 1 Kings 16:8-20; Matthew 27:5. As for Judas, we can discern that there will be no resurrection hope. See Mark 14:21; John 17:12; Hebrews 10:26.
Life is a gift from God, not something to be abused or to end at one’s own hand. (James 1:17) Hence, the Scriptures encourage us to see ourselves, not as immortal souls, but as valuable creations of the God who loves us, who treasures our being alive, and who looks forward with joy to the time of the resurrection. (Job 14:14, 15) Jehovah, having paid “a ransom in exchange for many,” is within his right to extend mercy, even to some self-murderers, by resurrecting them and giving them the precious opportunity to “repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance.”-Acts 26:20.
Granted, one who takes his own life deprives themselves of the opportunity to repent of their self-murder. But who can say whether one driven to suicide might have had a change of heart had his fatal attempt failed? Some notorious murderers have, in fact, changed and earned God’s forgiveness during their lifetimes. (2 Kings 21:16; 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13) They, like us, will still need the “ransom” to lift ourselves to perfection; and, judgment will be determined by what we do after the resurrection is complete.-1 John 4:8-10.
While suicide is never righteous and cannot be justified, it is comforting to remember that the future prospects of our loved ones rest with a God who fully understands that weaknesses and frailties such as mental illness, extreme stress, depression, and genetic defects could push one to such desperate action. He “well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:11-14) God alone searches “all hearts and every inclination of the thoughts.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) But we may be confident that “the Judge of all the earth is going to do what is loving, just, and right!”-Genesis 18:25.
The apostle Paul did hold out a beautiful hope for even some unrighteous ones. As he told a Roman court of law: “I have hope toward God…that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”-Acts 24:15.
Life is a gift from God, not something to be abused or to end at one’s own hand. (James 1:17) Hence, the Scriptures encourage us to see ourselves, not as immortal souls, but as valuable creations of the God who loves us, who treasures our being alive, and who looks forward with joy to the time of the resurrection. (Job 14:14, 15) Jehovah, having paid “a ransom in exchange for many,” is within his right to extend mercy, even to some self-murderers, by resurrecting them and giving them the precious opportunity to “repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance.”-Acts 26:20.
Granted, one who takes his own life deprives themselves of the opportunity to repent of their self-murder. But who can say whether one driven to suicide might have had a change of heart had his fatal attempt failed? Some notorious murderers have, in fact, changed and earned God’s forgiveness during their lifetimes. (2 Kings 21:16; 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13) They, like us, will still need the “ransom” to lift ourselves to perfection; and, judgment will be determined by what we do after the resurrection is complete.-1 John 4:8-10.
While suicide is never righteous and cannot be justified, it is comforting to remember that the future prospects of our loved ones rest with a God who fully understands that weaknesses and frailties such as mental illness, extreme stress, depression, and genetic defects could push one to such desperate action. He “well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:11-14) God alone searches “all hearts and every inclination of the thoughts.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) But we may be confident that “the Judge of all the earth is going to do what is loving, just, and right!”-Genesis 18:25.
The apostle Paul did hold out a beautiful hope for even some unrighteous ones. As he told a Roman court of law: “I have hope toward God…that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”-Acts 24:15.
L
I believe we need to look at Christ Our Savior to set the example on the suicide issue. Think of it this way , if Christ were out for a walk and saw a man hanging from a tree , a suicide . Would he say " look at that selfish sinful man " or would he respond " let's pray for this man , and pray that those who shared his life find peace. "
I understand what you are saying, but there is no purpose of prayer for a person after a person has passed away. Prayer is for the living, so yes, by all means, prayer for the family is vital. But, yes, how would Jesus respond to a suicide? Definitely with love, but I daresay, also with sorrow. He wants us to live and to live abundantly as His family.
B
God is the author of life... He gives life and He takes it away. God has never called anyone to take their own life. He has never condoned the action of anyone taking their own life. He has said that it would be better that one should have never been born then to betray the Son of man in (Mk 14:21) and a millstone be hung on the neck and drowned in the sea upon those who offend a little one in (Mt 18:6). He has never suggested nor put the thought into the mind of man to take their own life. He does not tempt man to take their own life. Jesus was not tempted to take his own life by the Father when he bore that cup in (Mt 26:38-42). It was a premature death that concerned Jesus from getting to the cross as the lamb of God. Only Satan (that murderer) tempted him to cast himself down from the high pinnacle of the temple with the promise that the angel would keep him from dashing his foot against the stone in (Mt 4:5-7).
I think it is very safe to say that it is never the will of God for any man to take their own life. If we have thoughts as a believer to take our own life, we must cast those thoughts down and the imaginations that go with those thoughts. There is no depression, fear, rationale or wisdom that could justify taking our own life as individuals or through mass suicide. The very thought that it could be justifiable by believers takes the author of life out of the picture and esteems unbelief that God is able to deliver them from all their distresses (Psalm 107:6,13,19,28). God delivered and rescued Daniel from the lion's den in (Dan 6:27). God makes this declaration in (Jer 32:27) ...'I am the God of all flesh is their anything too hard for me?' After Job had loss all his possessions and his family this was his confession in (Job 1:21)...
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Conclusion: It does not look good for those who make a decision to take their own life. Just in case some of you think that King Saul took his own life when asking the young Amalekite to thrust him threw with his own sword (if that actually happened as the boy had said). Saul knew that he was a dead man along with his sons in this battle with the Philistines according to (1 Sam 28:18,19). God had rent the kingdom from Saul and took his life in that battle so that the kingdom could be turned over to another, David. We should do all we can to discourage any form of suicide and it should never be made as an option for anyone no matter what they may be going through. Jesus said that He came to give life and give it more abundantly. Let that be our mindset and the kind of love for life that we take on through grace and the Holy Spirit for ourselves and for others.
I think it is very safe to say that it is never the will of God for any man to take their own life. If we have thoughts as a believer to take our own life, we must cast those thoughts down and the imaginations that go with those thoughts. There is no depression, fear, rationale or wisdom that could justify taking our own life as individuals or through mass suicide. The very thought that it could be justifiable by believers takes the author of life out of the picture and esteems unbelief that God is able to deliver them from all their distresses (Psalm 107:6,13,19,28). God delivered and rescued Daniel from the lion's den in (Dan 6:27). God makes this declaration in (Jer 32:27) ...'I am the God of all flesh is their anything too hard for me?' After Job had loss all his possessions and his family this was his confession in (Job 1:21)...
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Conclusion: It does not look good for those who make a decision to take their own life. Just in case some of you think that King Saul took his own life when asking the young Amalekite to thrust him threw with his own sword (if that actually happened as the boy had said). Saul knew that he was a dead man along with his sons in this battle with the Philistines according to (1 Sam 28:18,19). God had rent the kingdom from Saul and took his life in that battle so that the kingdom could be turned over to another, David. We should do all we can to discourage any form of suicide and it should never be made as an option for anyone no matter what they may be going through. Jesus said that He came to give life and give it more abundantly. Let that be our mindset and the kind of love for life that we take on through grace and the Holy Spirit for ourselves and for others.
We need to understand how time and eternity interact. Most people think time is linear - there’s eternity at one end, then a time line, then eternity at the other end. (Perhaps this graphic looks familiar eternity)---time---(eternity ?) But that image is wrong. What we need to picture is a wheel. A wheel has a hub and a rim. Imagine God and eternity existing in the hub, and time running along the rim. With this image in mind we can see how, like randomly inserted spokes, God can reach out and touch any point in time, at any point in time. And so yes, there is a purpose for prayer even after something has happened, as our prayers go up to God who is then able to act upon them even in our past. This is why praise and thanksgiving for answered prayer is so important - it could be the praise you give and lift to God now that allows Him to make that very thing to have happened in the past.
How many sins were forgiven at the Cross?
All of them.
Who took God's judgement for those sins?
Christ did.
If a saved person takes their own life - for whatever reason - whether they're deceived, depressed, in pain, mad at the world . . .
IF they believed on Christ, the judgement/punishment for their sin was already paid for by Christ. The only sin not paid for is the sin of unbelief.
This is a basic fundamental Truth of the Gospel.
God is a just God; He will not punish sin already dealt with. Jesus dealt with all sin at the Cross.
That includes suicide.
To the OP: If your son believed in Christ, choosing to end His life badly does not negate the Work of Christ on your son's behalf. God's Grace is bigger than our sins.
Grace and peace,
-JGIG
All of them.
Who took God's judgement for those sins?
Christ did.
If a saved person takes their own life - for whatever reason - whether they're deceived, depressed, in pain, mad at the world . . .
IF they believed on Christ, the judgement/punishment for their sin was already paid for by Christ. The only sin not paid for is the sin of unbelief.
This is a basic fundamental Truth of the Gospel.
God is a just God; He will not punish sin already dealt with. Jesus dealt with all sin at the Cross.
That includes suicide.
To the OP: If your son believed in Christ, choosing to end His life badly does not negate the Work of Christ on your son's behalf. God's Grace is bigger than our sins.
Grace and peace,
-JGIG
