If a Christian Commits Suicide: Is Suicide an Unpardonable Sin?

[CDavid]

eternally-gratefull

3. Scripture states that "no one" Which would include us since we are a someone" can separate us from the love of God.

4. Hebrews states that if someone could fall away, they could never be renewed to repentance (they would be lost forever with no hope of being saved again)

You grossly misinterpret the scripture. The correct understanding is that no one or nothing can separate us from Gods love, even if we do get lost again. If my son were to get lost in the forest, and I never see him again, I would not stop loving him, and never stop grieving for him. Our Father God never stops loving us, even if we fall away and get lost again and again. God loved us so much when we were lost that He gave His only begotten Son. He proves His love by saving us when we are lost every time.

As for your incorrect interpretation of Pauls writing in Heb. 6:4-6 please look more carefully. Paul does not say if someone could fall away, he clearly says if someone does fall away. For it isimpossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted [SUB]g[/SUB] the heavenly gift, and [SUB]h[/SUB] have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [SUP]5[/SUP] and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [SUP]6[/SUP] [SUB]3[/SUB] if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, [SUB]i[/SUB] since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

 

[Elizabeth619]

I was extremely depressed once. I never thought of ending my life, but my mother told me one thing that I think about every day. She told me that God will not give me more than I can handle.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


This passages says so much. Would God's way out be suicide? Certainly not.
One thing that people who are suicidal seem to forget is that we are to trust in God. He will take care of us. "Consider the ravens"(Luke 12:24) This tells us we are more valuable than birds, and God even looks after the birds.

For someone to even make an attempt at suicide they are taking matters in to their own hands. They aren't looking toward God for help. They aren't putting their trust in him. God gave us our life. Who are we to take it away?

 

[danschance]

Suicide is not the unpardonable sin but it is still a very serious sin.

"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." Mathew 24:13

The only way to be saved is to be true to God to the very end of our lives. Those who commit suicide have lost hope and may not of endured until the end as Christ has commanded. So it seems very likely that if you kill yourself, you get a one way free ticket to Hell.

 

[justamazed]

Suicide is not the unpardonable sin but it is still a very serious sin.



The only way to be saved is to be true to God to the very end of our lives. Those who commit suicide have lost hope and may not of endured until the end as Christ has commanded. So it seems very likely that if you kill yourself, you get a one way free ticket to Hell.

John 10:27-29

27*My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28*And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29*My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

If no man can pluck out what is in the Father's hand why then believe any man can pluck themselves out?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Suicide is an act of murdering oneself, which is a sin, and it's impossible to repent of it to find forgiveness since there's no chance for repentance after death. The belief that once saved you won't go to Hell for any sin you commit is the biggest lie from Satan; it is clearly stated in the scriptures that those who walk after the flesh will not inherit the kingdom. Anyone that is having suicidal thoughts needs to sincerely ask the Lord for deliverance from such captivity.
Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Note: I know this is a sensitive issue. It is not my intention to offend anyone. I'm just showing what the scriptures say.

Sorry, but the biggest lie of satan is that we have to earn our salvation.

Paul speaks of the same things you mentioned.

1 cor 6: [SUP]9 [/SUP]Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[SUP][a][/SUP] nor sodomites, [SUP]10 [/SUP]nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [SUP]11 [/SUP]And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul did not say they had stopped these sins. The book of 1 cor was written because they were still babes in Christ, still committing these sins. He was telling them, you deserve eternal death, But you were washed. So should you not treat your body like the body God renewed? and warning them that they wouild destroy their bodies if they did not change. Which is what these sins do.

God did not give us a spirit of fear. why do people want to preach the fear of God, and not the ABBA father we have?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

eternally-gratefull

3. Scripture states that "no one" Which would include us since we are a someone" can separate us from the love of God.

4. Hebrews states that if someone could fall away, they could never be renewed to repentance (they would be lost forever with no hope of being saved again)

You grossly misinterpret the scripture. The correct understanding is that no one or nothing can separate us from Gods love, even if we do get lost again. If my son were to get lost in the forest, and I never see him again, I would not stop loving him, and never stop grieving for him. Our Father God never stops loving us, even if we fall away and get lost again and again. God loved us so much when we were lost that He gave His only begotten Son. He proves His love by saving us when we are lost every time.

Thanks for your reply.

There is a HUGE difference between you and God. If your son gets lost, he can hide from you and you may never find him. No one can hide from God. He says quite clearly that he will leave his whole flock to find the lost sheep and bring them home. His sheep hear his voice and follow him.

I was one of the lost sheep once. I heard his voice and came back. I can leave God, but he will never leave me, that is exactly what God tells us in scripture.

As for your incorrect interpretation of Pauls writing in Heb. 6:4-6 please look more carefully. Paul does not say if someone could fall away, he clearly says if someone does fall away. For it isimpossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted [SUB]g[/SUB] the heavenly gift, and [SUB]h[/SUB] have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [SUP]5[/SUP] and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [SUP]6[/SUP] [SUB]3[/SUB] if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, [SUB]i[/SUB] since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

1. You should be careful when responding. Saying things like your incorrect is not very humble
2. I think you missed the whole point of what hebrews said. the thing that is impossible.. It is impossible to renew them to repentance is the main subject. If they fall away is just a question.
3. Hebrews is written to fight law. Law states if you sin, you must do works of the law to have that sin forgiven. The author is arguing against this belief, If we fall away the law will not help us, There is no chance of being renewed to salvation.

thus those who claim salvation have huge issues. If one could ever lose it. there is no hope of salvation again. The author tells us that saying one can lose salvation puts Christ to open shame.. He must have forgot a sin, and thus would have to come back and die again.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Suicide is not the unpardonable sin but it is still a very serious sin.



The only way to be saved is to be true to God to the very end of our lives. Those who commit suicide have lost hope and may not of endured until the end as Christ has commanded. So it seems very likely that if you kill yourself, you get a one way free ticket to Hell.

Jesus is talking about enduring to the end of tribulation. Not enduring to the end so we can be saved, the salvation here is physical life, not spiritual life.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I was extremely depressed once. I never thought of ending my life, but my mother told me one thing that I think about every day. She told me that God will not give me more than I can handle.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


This passages says so much. Would God's way out be suicide? Certainly not.
One thing that people who are suicidal seem to forget is that we are to trust in God. He will take care of us. "Consider the ravens"(Luke 12:24) This tells us we are more valuable than birds, and God even looks after the birds.

For someone to even make an attempt at suicide they are taking matters in to their own hands. They aren't looking toward God for help. They aren't putting their trust in him. God gave us our life. Who are we to take it away?

I was suicidal before I came back to Christ.

 

[ChristianJuggalo]

heres my opinion, suicide is not necessarily a damnation to hell for all sins are forgiven except the unpardonable sin blasphemy of the holy spirit....

 

[ChristianJuggalo]

heres my opinion, suicide is not necessarily a damnation to hell for all sins are forgiven except the unpardonable sin blasphemy of the holy spirit. That being said, the reason I don't believe its an automatic damnation to hell is because its a mental disease/defect just like diabetes is a disease/defect. They dont go to hell for eating too little/much do theythen what makes you think christians struggling with suicide is any different. My pastor taught us that one sunday​

 

[cooterhein]

Christians generally commit suicide for the same reasons anyone does- Christians are no less likely to experience serious depression just because they're Christians. To be clear, I'm not talking about feeling blue for a day or two- I'm talking about a cyclical pattern of crushing depression that lasts for days at a time, crushing to the point where a person just can't do anything at all when at their lowest- they can't even kill themselves at that lowest point until they start to be able to function a bit better. And people don't tend to kill themselves the first, second, or third time this sort of thing happens. On average, it's at least the seventh or eighth time that it happens on the low end of average, with 12 or 13 being the high end of average. It's the sort of thing that people try to deal with and try to rectify, but no matter what they do, it keeps happening over and over again every few months or a couple of times a year to the point where the beginning of a major depressive cycle leaves them feeling increasingly hopeless and powerless, particularly when drugs and therapy aren't particularly efficacious.

So mostly, it's major depression. Christians go through it too, and sometimes they kill themselves. Can they go to heaven anyway? If they've been regenerated and their sins have been atoned for, sure. And just because someone commits suicide, that's generally not a legitimate reason to question whether or not God has in fact saved them. As far as where the "first-class ticket to hell" idea comes from, it comes from the idea that there's a mortal-venial dichotomy to sin. Suicide is a mortal sin, and mortal sin results in loss of salvation, so if loss of salvation and physical death pretty much coincide, there's not much hope there. Although- I will add this- I have brought this topic up with apologists who do believe in the mortal-venial dichotomy, and they soften it as much as they can by offering some type of hope, saying that no one really knows for sure, maybe God has mercy and maybe there's some mental act of contrition that makes the whole thing something less than an eternal death sentence.

I know a few people who've dealt with relatively minor depression, but I don't know as many who suffer from the major kind and I only have one personal friend who's attempted suicide. He was and is a Christian. This is a sensitive topic for many people, this is my sensitive spot, and I'd say most people have very similar spots of sensitivity if they have them. Just putting that out there as a small reminder; you all know what to do with it.

 

[JaumeJ]

The very same people who browbeat others saying they should not observe the Sabbath because the law is abolished are the very same people who will tell you killing is a sin. My father committed suicide, and I am not the least worried about where he is now because the Lord has comforted me on the entire affair. Anyone attempting to say to me it is an unpardonable sin, do not bother God is the only influence I need in this. I believe I will be seeing my father in heaven.

 

[cooterhein]

But do not be so vain or nieve as to think that one can plan a suicide with the plan of before taking the last breath to say "Father Forgive me", because that is sin with INTENT, knowing full well that suicide is murder of self.

There are some people who believe the right combination of things that would lead to the mindset you describe. First, they would have to believe in the mortal-venial dichotomy of sin- they must believe in the existence of sin that is mortal. You take it for granted, but not everyone believes in this. Second, they must believe that in order to be taken-care-of, sin-wise (this is also known as "being atoned for"), it is the personal responsibility of each person to get themselves taken care of and keep themselves taken care of, especially in the hours before death whenever that may happen to come. Again, you take this for granted, but the people you're directing this chastisement at do not.

Now, to be clear, if you do happen to be right about these things (which I must respectfully inform you is counter-factual), you would be right to worry about the eternal fate of souls who don't believe those things. However, however, How E Ver, to your point that I have re-posted and replied to- people who don't believe in the existence of mortal sin as you do would be logically precluded from making the plan that you've described. It's common sense. But who would make such a plan? Well, it would be someone who does believe in the existence of mortal sin and who does believe that sin at the point of death leaves a stain on your soul- but they're so overwhelmed by depression that they choose to kill themselves anyway. Consequently, this is what point three looks like.

Third. If you are looking for the people who do make such plans and act in this manner, I can tell you how to find them. For the most part, all you have to look for is the victims of suicide who die with a rosary in their hands or somewhere on their person. Evidently, if you plan your suicide with the intent of saying "Father forgive me" with your last breath, some people believe Mary can help them widen that loophole to the point where a person can fit through. It's not really a loophole, but I want to hammer this point home to you- the mindset that you describe is a mindset held by people like you, not by people like me and whoever else your post was generally directed at.

 

[Mark51]

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.
　

 

[danschance]

John 10:27-29

27*My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28*And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29*My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

If no man can pluck out what is in the Father's hand why then believe any man can pluck themselves out?

"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved". Mathew 24:13

"obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:9

 

[justamazed]

"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved". Mathew 24:13

"obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:9

What are you trying to say?

 

[starfield]

Sorry, but the biggest lie of satan is that we have to earn our salvation.

Paul speaks of the same things you mentioned.

1 cor 6: [SUP]9 [/SUP]Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[SUP][a][/SUP] nor sodomites, [SUP]10 [/SUP]nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [SUP]11 [/SUP]And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul did not say they had stopped these sins. The book of 1 cor was written because they were still babes in Christ, still committing these sins. He was telling them, you deserve eternal death, But you were washed. So should you not treat your body like the body God renewed? and warning them that they wouild destroy their bodies if they did not change. Which is what these sins do.

God did not give us a spirit of fear. why do people want to preach the fear of God, and not the ABBA father we have?

That passage actually refutes your position, Sir.

First, the Corinthian folks were divisive which is why Paul told them that if they destroy the temple of God (their bodies) with sin, God will destroy them. God would not destroy them if they could be carnal and still enter Heaven. Now we can apply that passage to a Christian that commits suicide. Suicide is a sin against God and so He will destroy them with eternal fire because they destroyed His temple, they lost hope and trust in Him. Repentance cannot be sought once the last breath has been drawn so it's a one way ticket to Hell.

Secondly, Paul said that the Corinthian folks used to commit those sins but were not doing them anymore because have been washed and sanctified by the blood of Christ. Paul said "...and such were some of you", not "...and such are some of you", so they were no longer committing them. Paul also clearly stated that those who commit those sins will not inherit the kingdom; he wouldn't have told them that if they could do those things and still enter Heaven. There is nothing complex about that passage.

Eph 5:3-7
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Paul admonished them to not partake in those things or else they won't have part in the kingdom. You, however, say Christians can commit whatever sin they wish and still inherit the kingdom, in essence, mass murder and suicide tomorrow? No big deal. They're on their way to Heaven. No matter how you try to sugar-coat your message you are essentially preaching that grace is license to sin, Jesus shed His precious blood to give us freedom live in rebellion without eternal consequence, and one can be saved from sin whilst enslaved to it. What's humorous is that you say one who does not obey God was never saved in the first place and also say that one who does not obey God remains saved, since once saved, always saved. Why the inconsistency? Which is it? Never saved or saved in sin?

You also claim that people don’t go to Hell for sins but only unbelief, how do you reconcile this with Rev 21:8? Why doesn’t the verse just say unbelieving?
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Why does it list other sins that will disqualify one's entry into the kingdom?

Why does the passage below say sinners will be judged according to their works (sins) at the Great White Throne Judgment, if no one goes to Hell for sins?
Rev 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

[Meshullam]

OK, I know that this has been one of those arguments of the ages. But all of my life I have been taught, matter of factly, that suicide is an automatic first class ticket to hell. I still am trying to find out where the scripture verse is that this doctrine is based on??? I have yet to hear a preacher quote a passage that points to suicide being an unpardonable sin.

I was surprised when I heard Curt Karr, a famous black gospel singer and worship leader, give his testimony on TBN about his unsuccessful suicide attempt. He made a comment that caught me off guard. "...I would have gone to Heaven...". This was especially surprising coming from a black preacher, being that black people were especially brought up in denominations (COGIC, Pentecostal, Holiness...) that strongly enforced the hellfire-and-brimestone message (me being black myself), and suicide being one of those things that our culture was especially taught was a NO-NO (there is even an inside joke within the black community that "only white people do that"...not meant to offend anyone, because we know that's not true.). He was the first preacher I heard say that he would have gone to Heaven after his suicide. So, obviosly, everyone does not agree that suicide will send you to hell.

I even heard a story a while ago of a preacher who's mother was also a preacher who shot herself in the head. Even prophetess Juanita Bynum, a couple of years ago, admitted that she was about to kill herself after her very public divorce. So, now I'm wondering about this issue of suicide. If it is an unpardonable sin, why are so many Christians doing it or at least contemplating it? And where did the doctrine of suicide come from?

Well, it's a bit of an awry question considering what you might see 'unpardonable sin' as and what an unpardonable sin's consequences actually are .... but the short answer is no.

Look at where our modern concept of hell comes from, and look at Judaism's concept of Gehinom and Gan Eden, which Jesus would have learnt.

Then go fetch every time the word 'hell' is said in any verse, and trace it to it's root word.

It'll either be 'shoel', gehenna/gehinom or hades.

Find out what these mean in Judaic terms and then come back and ask the same question.

 

[Meshullam]

Scrutinize every word from the greek and hebrew and learn the old concepts and idiom.

Destroy - annul, loosen, bring low.

Punish - chastise

Belief - be convinced of, trust in.

Really reproof your bible, don't just read it and accept.

 

[Meshullam]

eternally-gratefull

3. Scripture states that "no one" Which would include us since we are a someone" can separate us from the love of God.

4. Hebrews states that if someone could fall away, they could never be renewed to repentance (they would be lost forever with no hope of being saved again)

You grossly misinterpret the scripture. The correct understanding is that no one or nothing can separate us from Gods love, even if we do get lost again. If my son were to get lost in the forest, and I never see him again, I would not stop loving him, and never stop grieving for him. Our Father God never stops loving us, even if we fall away and get lost again and again. God loved us so much when we were lost that He gave His only begotten Son. He proves His love by saving us when we are lost every time.

As for your incorrect interpretation of Pauls writing in Heb. 6:4-6 please look more carefully. Paul does not say if someone could fall away, he clearly says if someone does fall away. For it isimpossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted [SUB]g[/SUB] the heavenly gift, and [SUB]h[/SUB] have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [SUP]5[/SUP] and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [SUP]6[/SUP] [SUB]3[/SUB] if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, [SUB]i[/SUB] since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

This isn't about mortal life.

It's about after the resurrection.

But every person whose food is milk is unfamiliar with the teaching of right-thinking, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, those whose senses are instructed to distinguish between good and evil, because they practice.
Because of this, let us leave behind the beginning of the message of The Messiah, and let us move on (to that which is concerning) our perfection; or are you going back and laying again another foundation for conversion from dead works and for faith in God? Another for the teaching of cleansing, the laying on of hands, for the resurrection from amidst death, and for the ageless judgment? We shall do this only if God permits! But those who have descended once to cleansing and tasted the gift of Heaven and received The Spirit of Holiness, And felt the good word of God and the power of the future world, Who would sin again and again crucify The Son of God, and become contemptible, cannot be renewed to conversion. But The Earth that drinks rain that comes to it often, and makes vegetation grow that is useful for those for whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God. But if it should produce thorns and thistles, it would be rejected and not far from curses, but its end is burning.