Is suicide unforgivable

[ashleysdad]

I want to ask a couple of questions. Well I guess one question with two parts. Is suicide a sin that is unforgivable? I know that Jesus' death on the cross atoned for all sin past, present, and future but does suicide show a lack of faith that indicates the person was not truly saved in the first place? I guess what I am trying to ask is will a truly saved person ever commit suicide? This is a serious question that I have been grappling with for awhile and I would really appreciate some BIBLICAL answers. Thanks in advance.

 

[annsni]

Suicide is NOT unforgivable. No where in Scripture do we see that it is and even though it's an extreme action, if one is truly saved, they will be forgiven by God.

 

[Revmitchell]

While the issue of sucicide is not directly addressed in scripture there are a few men of God who committed suicide in scripture.


Samson committed suicide, however we find in the book of Hebrews that he was listed in chapter 11 as a man of faith.

There was also King Saul who committed suicide.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Nothing can separate the Christian who commits suicide from God. Read Romans 8:38-39. The idea that suicide is somehow a different, greater, or unforgivable sin is a lie and a false teaching and can be found nowhere in the Bible.

Those who believe that suicide is an unforgivable sin believe so because they believe that you have no opportunity to repent of it.

Well, having unconfessed sin in one's life as you die is 100% common to every single Christian. No one is cognizant of every single sin their life nor do we confess 100% of it before our deaths. So the idea that suicide is an "unconfessed sin" and sends you to hell holds no water.

Suicide is grievous and destroys families. So do a host of other things: drugs, rape, incest, divorce, and more.

To say suicide is somehow different and can annul the blood of Christ is a lie.

 

[salzer mtn]

I want to ask a couple of questions. Well I guess one question with two parts. Is suicide a sin that is unforgivable? I know that Jesus' death on the cross atoned for all sin past, present, and future but does suicide show a lack of faith that indicates the person was not truly saved in the first place? I guess what I am trying to ask is will a truly saved person ever commit suicide? This is a serious question that I have been grappling with for awhile and I would really appreciate some BIBLICAL answers. Thanks in advance.

Sir, by reading between the lines it sounds like you have been entertaining this thought for some time. I don't think there is a definite answer to your question. King Saul was probably not saved to start with and Samson was under different circumstances than a person that committed the act would be today. I hope you are not thinking about doing this act. If you are please seek help.

 

[righteousdude2]

While the issue of sucicide is not directly addressed in scripture there are a few men of God who committed suicide in scripture.


Samson committed suicide, however we find in the book of Hebrews that he was listed in chapter 11 as a man of faith.

There was also King Saul who committed suicide.

Rev, you forgot Judas. But it was assumed he did not gain eternal life.

The RCC teaches it is unforgivable, but only blasphemy is unforgivable.

Great question AD.... :thumbsup:

 

[Revmitchell]

Rev, you forgot Judas. But it was assumed he did not gain eternal life.

The RCC teaches it is unforgivable, but only blasphemy is unforgivable.

Great question AD.... :thumbsup:

I did not forget him I intentional did not include him because he is not relevant to a positive response to this. It is also and absurd claim that King Saul was not saved. What is wrong with people.

 

[righteousdude2]

Sir, by reading between the lines it sounds like you have been entertaining this thought for some time. I don't think there is a definite answer to your question. King Saul was probably not saved to start with and Samson was under different circumstances than a person that committed the act would be today. I hope you are not thinking about doing this act. If you are please seek help.

Did I miss something in his post? I read it several times and do not think this man is considering offing himself. However, anyone contemplating suicide should, as you say, seek immediate help.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Did I miss something in his post? I read it several times and do not think this man is considering offing himself. However, anyone contemplating suicide should, as you say, seek immediate help.

Seek it where....this man is a Baptist Pastor....where would he go , indeed where would any of us go?

Lets say you have a terminal disease for example...your obviously becoming an ever increasing burden to family. You are deteriorating every day....invariably you are going to succome (sic)to it....and it isn't pretty (example could be cancer). So what help could you look forward to? What could anyone possibly tell you?

 

[annsni]

Seek it where....this man is a Baptist Pastor....where would he go , indeed where would any of us go?

Lets say you have a terminal disease for example...your obviously becoming an ever increasing burden to family. You are deteriorating every day....invariably you are going to succome (sic)to it....and it isn't pretty (example could be cancer). So what help could you look forward to? What could anyone possibly tell you?

I would never recommend someone actively take their own life even in the face of suffering with cancer or anything. Use that time to spend with your family. Show them God's grace and allow God's grace to wash over you. I have been at the death bed of numerous people as they were dying of cancer and while it's not wonderful, there is a sweetness when surrounded by family, their pain is managed and they can finish their moments in God's presence.

 

[Deacon]

This post may seem a bit harsh but I’m acquainted with suicide; two friend’s sons, one in his late teens and the other in his young twenties, died of suicide a few years back.

You ask, “Is suicide unforgivable?”

I personally find it hard to forgive them… it is such a terrible act.

The parents are still affected in almost every aspect of their lives... they continue to morn and greave in their own ways.

There is probably not a week that goes by that the wife of the older son isn’t in tears about it.

Those who commit suicide are selfish.

Sure, God can forgive him, but I find it harder.
My only consolation is that I believe that many of those who do such a thing are mentally ill... for this they can be forgiven.

Rob

 

[JamesL]

Nothing can separate the Christian who commits suicide from God. Read Romans 8:38-39..

that's an out-of-context use of scripture.

Though scripture teaches eternal security, Romans 8 isn't where

 

[Scarlett O.]

that's an out-of-context use of scripture.

Though scripture teaches eternal security, Romans 8 isn't where

Go back to verse 1. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus walking not in the flesh but the spirit."

Yes, I know what Romans 8 is about.

There is nothing "good" (what we call good) that can separate us from God. And there is nothing evil (in our sin or the sins of others) that can separate us from God - here or in His presence.

A true Christian should be walking in the Spirit 100% of the time, but we live in a body of flesh, so we don't. Even when we make mistakes and sin, God sees us through the blood of Christ.

 

[Revmitchell]

I have dealt with suicide extensively. When I was pastoring in the reservation there was about a year and a half where I dealt with one or more suicides monthly some in consecutive weeks. I dealt with it so much I eventually became tired and distressed myself.

During this time I received training from both the Federal government and from SBC disaster relief as a chaplain.


It is easy to judge from a distance people who commit suicide. Quite frankly I have no tolerance for that judgment. Until you have looked into the eyes of people who have no hope in their mind time and again I suggest you save your judgment. Until you have looked into the eyes of a 16 year old girl who tells you she just has no hope just shut your mouth.

Until you have ministered to people who are in actual despair with real concerns I suggest you keep your pharisitical attitude to yourself. You know not of what you judge.

There are real and genuine reasons why people commit suicide and calling them selfish does nothing to address those needs. If you want to be unforgiving about suicide then you need to deal with God on that issue. Shame on you.

 

[Greektim]

While the issue of sucicide is not directly addressed in scripture there are a few men of God who committed suicide in scripture.


Samson committed suicide, however we find in the book of Hebrews that he was listed in chapter 11 as a man of faith.

There was also King Saul who committed suicide.

Not sure I would call that suicide for Samson. No more than an act of valor to die in the process.

Here is the situation as I see it. While I don't believe suicide is the one sin that damns to hell regardless of Christ's atonement, I also believe a true follower of Christ will not do this.

 

[Zaac]

I want to ask a couple of questions. Well I guess one question with two parts. Is suicide a sin that is unforgivable? I know that Jesus' death on the cross atoned for all sin past, present, and future but does suicide show a lack of faith that indicates the person was not truly saved in the first place? I guess what I am trying to ask is will a truly saved person ever commit suicide? This is a serious question that I have been grappling with for awhile and I would really appreciate some BIBLICAL answers. Thanks in advance.

Ashley's dad, it's awful that we have to grapple with something like this. As Scarlett alluded, Scripture tells us that NOTHING, not even the act of suicide , can snatch us from His hand.

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:28-29

But Deacons response is often how we're left feeling.

Medications are also at issue a lot when dealing with suicide. More and more, I've been seeing people on medications prescribed by their doctors that simply put them in a place they can't come out of.

So yes, often it is a selfish act. But often, because of some of the side effects of anti-depressants and other drugs, some are simply not left in their right mind.

I would urge anyone who has a family member whose mood has simply changed to keep an eye on them and possibly make those doctor's visits with them if they are on anti-depressants or anything that might cause suicidal thoughts. And there's a lot of them.

I pray that all is well. raying:

 

[Revmitchell]

Here is the situation as I see it. While I don't believe suicide is the one sin that damns to hell regardless of Christ's atonement, I also believe a true follower of Christ will not do this.

That is a very sad doctrine.

 

[Zaac]

Go back to verse 1. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus walking not in the flesh but the spirit."

Yes, I know what Romans 8 is about.

There is nothing "good" (what we call good) that can separate us from God. And there is nothing evil (in our sin or the sins of others) that can separate us from God - here or in His presence.

A true Christian should be walking in the Spirit 100% of the time, but we live in a body of flesh, so we don't. Even when we make mistakes and sin, God sees us through the blood of Christ.

Exactly. WHich is again why I mentioned the medications. You can't have the mind of Christ if you can't control your mind. You can't walk in the Spirit if something else has control of your mind.

 

[Zaac]

Not sure I would call that suicide for Samson. No more than an act of valor to die in the process.

Here is the situation as I see it. While I don't believe suicide is the one sin that damns to hell regardless of Christ's atonement, I also believe a true follower of Christ will not do this.

It's an interesting belief shared by a lot of Christians. But in maintaining the integrity of the WHOLE of Scripture whereby God is not made into a liar, no one has to mean no one.

If by a work of our own hands we cannot save ourselves, then there is no work of our hands that can unsave us.

BIBLICALLY, saved people have committed every sin imaginable and been no less saved.

 

[annsni]

Exactly. WHich is again why I mentioned the medications. You can't have the mind of Christ if you can't control your mind. You can't walk in the Spirit if something else has control of your mind.

I believe sometimes medication helps us to have control of our mind. When there is a chemical component, we need to help balance that my medicine and it then helps our body to work properly.

I don't have a mental illness (that I know of ) but I do have something called polycystic ovarian syndrome and a portion of that is caused by insulin resistance. Basically, my body cannot read properly when I have insulin in my bloodstream so it keeps making more and more and more. It's kind of the opposite of diabetes. What happens with the extra insulin is that it affects all sorts of other systems that end up increasing my risk of infertility (absolutely affected my fertility), heart disease, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. I have had multiple D&Cs due to excessive bleeding and I have many ovarian cysts. I could also eat super healthy and still store fat which makes me very unhealthy. HOWEVER, there is a medication called metformin that seems to help in my situation. By taking the metformin, my pancreas is no longer producing so much insulin, I dropped weight, my ovarian cysts have decreased dramatically and I have a regular cycle, thus decreasing my risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. By dropping the weight and not storing fat like I did before, I have decreased my risk of heart disease. Essentially, my body functions now the way it should just because of taking this medication.

I explained all of that to show how sometimes, something is off kilter in our body which then affects all kinds of other systems and by taking some medication to regulate what is off kilter, we can then begin to be "normal" again. It's not that we are being controlled by the medication but the medication is controlling what's wrong so that our brains can function properly.