Post by Richard on Jun 3, 2005 17:03:21 GMT -5
Question: "What does the Bible say about suicide? What about a believer who commits suicide?"
Answer: According to the Bible, whether a person commits suicide is not what determines whether her or she gains entrance into heaven. If an unsaved person commits suicide, he or she has done nothing but “expedited” their journey to the lake of fire. However, the person who committed suicide will ultimately be in hell for rejecting salvation through Christ, not because they committed suicide. The Bible mentions four specific people who committed suicide: Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Each of them were wicked, evil, sinful men. The Bible views suicide as equal to murder – that’s what it is – self-murder. God is the One who is to decide when and how a person should die. To take that power into your own hands is blasphemy to God.
What does the Bible say about a believer who commits suicide? I do not believe that a believer who commits suicide will go to hell. From the moment a person truly believes in Christ, he or she is eternally secure (John 3:16). Believers can know beyond any doubt that they possess eternal life no matter what happens. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love! “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). If no “created thing” can separate a believer from God’s love, and even a believer who commits suicide is a “created thing,” then not even suicide can separate him from God’s love. Jesus died for all of our sins...and if a true believer in Christ were to, in a time of spiritual attack and weakness, commit suicide - that would be a sin that Jesus died for.
This is not to say that suicide is not a serious sin against God. Suicide is murder, it is always wrong. I would have serious doubts about the genuine faith of anyone who claimed to be a Christian yet committed suicide. There is no circumstance that can justify someone, especially a believer in Christ, taking his or her own life. Believers are called to live their life’s for God – the decision on when to die is God’s and God’s alone. Perhaps a good way to illustrate suicide for a Christian would be from the Book of Esther. In Persia, they had a law that anyone who came before the king uninvited could be put to death unless the king extended his scepter towards the person indicating mercy. Suicide for a Christian would be forcing your way in to see the King instead of waiting for Him to summon you. He will point His scepter towards you, sparing your eternal life, but that does not mean He is happy with you. Although it is not describing suicide, 1 Corinthians 3:15 is probably a good description of what happens to a believer who commits suicide: “He himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”<br>
Recommended Resource: Suicide: A Christian Response : Five Crucial Considerations for Choosing Life by Gary Stewart.
Answer: According to the Bible, whether a person commits suicide is not what determines whether her or she gains entrance into heaven. If an unsaved person commits suicide, he or she has done nothing but “expedited” their journey to the lake of fire. However, the person who committed suicide will ultimately be in hell for rejecting salvation through Christ, not because they committed suicide. The Bible mentions four specific people who committed suicide: Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Each of them were wicked, evil, sinful men. The Bible views suicide as equal to murder – that’s what it is – self-murder. God is the One who is to decide when and how a person should die. To take that power into your own hands is blasphemy to God.
What does the Bible say about a believer who commits suicide? I do not believe that a believer who commits suicide will go to hell. From the moment a person truly believes in Christ, he or she is eternally secure (John 3:16). Believers can know beyond any doubt that they possess eternal life no matter what happens. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love! “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). If no “created thing” can separate a believer from God’s love, and even a believer who commits suicide is a “created thing,” then not even suicide can separate him from God’s love. Jesus died for all of our sins...and if a true believer in Christ were to, in a time of spiritual attack and weakness, commit suicide - that would be a sin that Jesus died for.
This is not to say that suicide is not a serious sin against God. Suicide is murder, it is always wrong. I would have serious doubts about the genuine faith of anyone who claimed to be a Christian yet committed suicide. There is no circumstance that can justify someone, especially a believer in Christ, taking his or her own life. Believers are called to live their life’s for God – the decision on when to die is God’s and God’s alone. Perhaps a good way to illustrate suicide for a Christian would be from the Book of Esther. In Persia, they had a law that anyone who came before the king uninvited could be put to death unless the king extended his scepter towards the person indicating mercy. Suicide for a Christian would be forcing your way in to see the King instead of waiting for Him to summon you. He will point His scepter towards you, sparing your eternal life, but that does not mean He is happy with you. Although it is not describing suicide, 1 Corinthians 3:15 is probably a good description of what happens to a believer who commits suicide: “He himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”<br>
Recommended Resource: Suicide: A Christian Response : Five Crucial Considerations for Choosing Life by Gary Stewart.