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Hi I'm new to this forum and to Christianity so sorry if I post this in the wrong forum. I've tried doing a search to see if there is already a topic on this (am guessing there is, somewhere) but I get an error message when I try to search.
Anyway I'm wondering if anyone can tell me whether people go to hell for committing suicide. I read in the Bible that Judas hanged himself and still went to heaven but my understanding before was that suicide was a sin, so I'm a little confused.
Could anyone help/give thoughts? In the meantime I'll keep searching around the forum, thank you.
Edit - it's ok I found another thread asking the same question and have read the replies.
Last edited by lasthope; 16th August 2009 at 05:22 PM.
Hi I'm new to this forum and to Christianity so sorry if I post this in the wrong forum. I've tried doing a search to see if there is already a topic on this (am guessing there is, somewhere) but I get an error message when I try to search.
Anyway I'm wondering if anyone can tell me whether people go to hell for committing suicide. I read in the Bible that Judas hanged himself and still went to heaven but my understanding before was that suicide was a sin, so I'm a little confused.
Could anyone help/give thoughts? In the meantime I'll keep searching around the forum, thank you.
Edit - it's ok I found another thread asking the same question and have read the replies.
Judas did not go to Heaven.
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ to death... he was stealing from the purse he held the whole time.
People rattle off all sorts of nonsense about Heaven and Hell which comes from traditional teachings usually. Stories passed around so people don't even know who started it.
Paul turned over someone in Scripture 'to Satan to destroy his flesh so his spirit might be saved', for instance, so that guy would have died someway, yet his spirit still would have been saved. And he would have been killed under deception. So, who knows that the devil didn't trick him into killing himself?
Yet, his spirit would have been saved.
But, Christians, in general, should not be defeated enough to kill themselves.
However, such matters are a bit like arguing how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. If someone knows someone who died that way, I would not give up hope, nor prayer.
God is beyond time, so such prayer could still be of value.
. I have been a conscientious Bible student since 1971 and have yet to be shown either a commandment or a teaching that forbids suicide.
Some people have attempted to construe the commandment against murder as applying to suicide but the universal definition of murder is that of taking a human life unlawfully. Since there is no law in the Bible against suicide, then the taking of one's own life does not fit the definition of "unlawful" which Webster's defines as: illegal and/or prohibited.
I would say that deliberately putting oneself into a situation that leads to certain death qualifies as suicide; e.g. the men who went to their deaths on the Titanic in order that women and children might escape on the limited number of life boats. Theirs was a very noble suicide, yet, suicide nonetheless. The men could have easily overpowered the woman and children to save their own skins, but chose not to.
Christ's crucifixion was a suicide too.
You know; he didn't have to die. Any man with the ability to control the weather, restore withered limbs, cure blindness, multiply loaves and fishes, walk on water, curse a fig tree, turn water into wine, stop the flow of blood, and raise the dead has nothing to fear from any man on earth.
The Romans would never have succeeded in taking Jesus' life had he not gone to the cross voluntarily. Jesus gave his life for the sins of the world. No man extracted his life from him against his will. He could have spoken a word and every one of his executioners, to the last man, would have dropped dead at his feet. If a common man like Samson could break strong ropes, and defeat an army of Philistines single-handed with only a donkey's jawbone for a weapon: the Bible's Christ more so.
†. Mtt 26:52 . . Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
†. John 10:17-18 . .The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life— only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
RE: Judas
Judas was doomed to Hell before he was even born; but not for suicide; rather, for the sin of unfaithfulness. According to Peter at Acts 1:20, key portions of Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 apply to Judas; and they are not very nice. His treatment of Jesus not only led to himself being cursed, but also his posterity. It's pretty serious to turn against Christ. I suspect it will more tolerable in Hell for an atheist than for Chris-tians who do that.
†. Heb 6:4-8 . . It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
. . Soil that soaks up the rain often falling on it, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed, receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
BTW: a legion was the principal unit of the Roman army comprising 3,000 to 6,000 foot soldiers with cavalry. Twelve legions = 36,000 to 72000 fighting men, not counting those mounted on horseback.
C.L.I.F.F. /
Last edited by Webers_Home; 16th August 2009 at 10:46 PM.
Suicide is murder, and a person can't repent after they've off themself, so they die with the sin of murder on their soul. What happens after that only God knows.
Last edited by TheGuide; 18th August 2009 at 12:48 AM.
There were a surprising number of references to suicide and SI in the Bible. And these stories came without a declaration of what came next.
People say that sin right before death sends us to Hell. But if we believe that Jesus paid the price once, for all, then our faith can be counted for righteousness. If we stole a cookie right before a bear mauling, the sin of stealing is not more powerful than Jesus' redemption. He is not willing that any should perish. We do not face eternity with a last-minute trick.
Someone brought up Sampson -- he made a conscious decision to die. People honored him.
King Saul asked his armour-bearer to do it, and when he was refused, he asked a stranger. No scriptural commentary.
The armour-bearer fell on his sword.
Jonah asked to die.
Elijah asked to die.
Abimelech asked his armour-bearer to kill him because a woman almost did. (Again, no scriptural commentary.)
Solomon mused about the despair of life.
What if we were dying in the hospital, and coveted our neighbor's private room? We sin all the time. But Jesus paid the price to cover our sin.
Some people are truly clinically depressed, or under medication with side effects that lead to suicidal thought or violence. It is up to God to make decisions, not us. I think that applies to Judas, where Jesus already knew his heart -- his intents were continually against Jesus' goals. Jesus did not complain when Judas made his worst choice -- Judas had already made bad choices.
But if we are living for Him, fulfilling God's assignments in His kingdom, then life has purposes that make suicide appear senseless. There is so much He can do through us. When we die, fine -- but when we live, we should see what's possible and how God wants us involved.
Jesus said to not make any marks or tattoos on our body.
When the commandments were written , "God" was written above the commandments that spoke about what not do do to God.
"Man" was written above the commandments that you couldn't do to men.
When Jesus came down to earth , he didn't sin.
Jesus didn't curse God's name , because it was sinful to do it , even though he was God.
So even if we are man , we have no right to sin against ourselves and God.
It prohibits murdering of self , lying to self , stealing from self (gambling) , etc.
Either way , hanging yourself , will make a mark on your neck. And cutting your wrist will give you a mark on your wrist.
Even drowning yourself will leave a mark in your lungs.
ANd Jesus said not to make marks on your body.
Jesus said that the twelve disciples will judge the twelve tribes of israel.
Judas was one of the twelve.
Satan entered into Judas though.
Satan killed Judas.
Last edited by alexross8; 31st August 2009 at 07:51 PM.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
God granted us life; therefore it is for him to take it away.
If suicide was ok, then every Christian would do it. But the above passage stops us, we have also been told to go into the entire world and preach the gospel. We have a duty to do this, how selfish would it be for a Christian to commit suicide when there are people on this earth still needing saved?
With regards to the men on Titanic - I can see what your saying regarding suicide however these men did not commit suicide. They stayed alive for as long as possible (in the freezing water) hoping help would come and save them. Help arrived too late.
If you want to look at it another way, they laid down their life for their friends.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Christ's crucifixion was NOT suicide. Jesus did NOT kill himself. It is wholly wrong to think that. I can see the point you are trying to make but it is wrong to say Jesus committed suicide. It goes against scripture.
Yes, he had the power to come off the cross etc, but still, he did NOT kill himself. There is a clear dividing line.
John 17:12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
I agree with heron with regards to sinning before you die. Of course you aren't going to go to hell for sinning right before you die. Although I would hate to die in my sins.
Some have made reference to biblical people who committed suicide. For example, Samson, he defeated the enemies of God's people. It was not wrong of him to do what he did. God granted him the strength in order to pull of this feat!
Jonah asked to die, he didn't commit suicide. He knew his thoughts were not Godly as he wanted those in Nineveh to die. That's why he felt the way he did.
Just another thought to add to the list, the jailer in acts was going to commit suicide but Paul stopped him.
I believe you are still able to go to heaven even if you commit suicide.
Yes, suicide is murder, but whats the difference between that and lying? In stealing? In Gods eyes, no difference and yet all of us, christian or not, still sin. So you say, when you kill yourself, you cannot repent and therefore cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Well, lets think about this. Is every sin we do repented for? What about freak accidents or incidents we didn't see coming. Since we do not know the hour of our death, not every sin can be accounted for...thats where Jesus Christ comes in. He paid the price for ALL of our sins and all that is required of us is to believe in Him. Jesus said, "no one enters the kingdom of heaven except through me.." The only requirement for salvation is the belief in Jesus Christs resurrection. Acts cannot save you, but one act can condemn you and that is the "unforgiveable sin" of the denial of Jesus Christ.
. I have been a conscientious Bible student since 1971 and have yet to be shown either a commandment or a teaching that forbids suicide.
Some people have attempted to construe the commandment against murder as applying to suicide but the universal definition of murder is that of taking a human life unlawfully. Since there is no law in the Bible against suicide, then the taking of one's own life does not fit the definition of "unlawful" which Webster's defines as: illegal and/or prohibited.
I would say that deliberately putting oneself into a situation that leads to certain death qualifies as suicide; e.g. the men who went to their deaths on the Titanic in order that women and children might escape on the limited number of life boats. Theirs was a very noble suicide, yet, suicide nonetheless. The men could have easily overpowered the woman and children to save their own skins, but chose not to.
Christ's crucifixion was a suicide too.
You know; he didn't have to die. Any man with the ability to control the weather, restore withered limbs, cure blindness, multiply loaves and fishes, walk on water, curse a fig tree, turn water into wine, stop the flow of blood, and raise the dead has nothing to fear from any man on earth.
The Romans would never have succeeded in taking Jesus' life had he not gone to the cross voluntarily. Jesus gave his life for the sins of the world. No man extracted his life from him against his will. He could have spoken a word and every one of his executioners, to the last man, would have dropped dead at his feet. If a common man like Samson could break strong ropes, and defeat an army of Philistines single-handed with only a donkey's jawbone for a weapon: the Bible's Christ more so.
†. Mtt 26:52 . . Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
†. John 10:17-18 . .The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life— only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
RE: Judas
Judas was doomed to Hell before he was even born; but not for suicide; rather, for the sin of unfaithfulness. According to Peter at Acts 1:20, key portions of Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 apply to Judas; and they are not very nice. His treatment of Jesus not only led to himself being cursed, but also his posterity. It's pretty serious to turn against Christ. I suspect it will more tolerable in Hell for an atheist than for Chris-tians who do that.
†. Heb 6:4-8 . . It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
. . Soil that soaks up the rain often falling on it, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed, receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
BTW: a legion was the principal unit of the Roman army comprising 3,000 to 6,000 foot soldiers with cavalry. Twelve legions = 36,000 to 72000 fighting men, not counting those mounted on horseback.
C.L.I.F.F. /
I have to disagree with the part I highlighted in red. Anyone who claims to be a Christian but then turns their back on the faith, was never truly a Christian. So how can you say they can not repent??? Isn't God a God of Love and Mercy??? What about the story Jesus tells us about the lost son. I was that lost son. I thought I had accepted Jesus in my life back in 2001, but by 2002 I went back to my old sinful ways. I guess I was never a true Christian. On Aug. 2, 2009 I repented for all I have done to offend God. I cried out to the Lord to take me back and I believe he did, because he is a God of Love and Mercy. I was lost, but now I was found again. So please, do not go around telling unbelievers, new believers or those coming back to their faith that they can no longer be saved.
__________________ If you want to be with HIM, you have to learn to reach.
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