Suicide

[DarkProphet]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

 

[drich0150]

Like anyone else it depends on if they had a relationship with Jesus or not.

 

[Digit]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

I don't really feel that it's something we can accurately declare a position on as even though the Bible contains references of suicides it does not have a clear position on it - probably because if we knew we would end up saved, there may be a dramatic increase in suicides. Conversely if those who suicide share the same fate as the wicked, it could be a heavy blow to their family and friends.

I tend to agree with the poster but I think that since the Bible is silent on the issue God has the ultimate word, as usual.

 

[DarkProphet]

Yeah that's about the same position as my friend, that it's faith that determines salvation not action, including suicide. Still I know that the Catholic position is different but I don't remember the specifics.

 

[Van]

Yes, the Once Saved, Always Saved folks will tell you if a born again believer sins, he still goes to heaven, whereas the "faith plus works" crowd thinks you can lose your salvation by sinning. So the issue is not suicide, but whether a christian can lose their salvation. And we are split on that issue.

 

[ebia]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

If one has an over defined, mechanistic, view of salvation - and one that is about being whisked off to heaven when one dies - I can see how one might arrive at that conclusion.

 

[zaksmummy]

Things to bear in mind when discussing suicide - most people who commit suicide are depressed, these people are not making a rational choice and they come to the conclusion that they perceive that there lives are no longer worth it after all other choices have been eliminated.

As far as I can see if a person has repented of their sins, and have been forgiven then ALL their sins are forgiven - I guess Im a once saved, always saved person, its the only position that provided complete hope to me.

 

[bluelime2]

but I think that since the Bible is silent on the issue God has the ultimate word, as usual.

amen

 

[seashale76]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

Romans 9:15
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Someone who kills himself/herself has no opportunity to repent of this act of murder. Christians consider their very lives to be a gift from God. Church burials are forbidden to someone who commits suicide.

 

[freeport]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

People's opinions really don't matter...

I have seen a lot of opinions of people on these matters - even good Christians - who simply do not know what they are talking about.

What is true is if someone is saved, they are saved, regardless of whatever sins might they do.

 

[DarkProphet]

Romans 9:15
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Someone who kills himself/herself has no opportunity to repent of this act of murder.

I'd like to know what definition of "murder" you're using here.

Christians consider their very lives to be a gift from God. Church burials are forbidden to someone who commits suicide.

If I recall the Catholic view is the same as this.

 

[DarkProphet]

People's opinions really don't matter...

I have seen a lot of opinions of people on these matters - even good Christians - who simply do not know what they are talking about.

That seems to be the norm on most Christian matters.

What is true is if someone is saved, they are saved, regardless of whatever sins might they do.

So suicide is a sin? If it is then isn't that God can't be around sinners?

 

[98cwitr]

What is true is if someone is saved, they are saved, regardless of whatever sins might they do.

How would you interpret Romans 8 with that frame of mind? Just wondering.

My stand is is that my life is not mine to take...I do not own it, so how can I take what I do not own?

 

[freeport]

That seems to be the norm on most Christian matters.

Everybody has different perspectives... different limitations.

Or no limitations at all.

It does not seem that way to me, but I am an insider... and you are likely dealing with a lot of false front Christians who effectively supply people with disinformation about the truth.

To use those terms for metaphoric purposes. But they are true.

So suicide is a sin? If it is then isn't that God can't be around sinners?

As for "God not being around sinners" -- God fills the Heaven and earth. The problem of sin - or error - is more difficult then that. Someone just sins one time and they get damned forever? Does anyone teach that? I think I saw that on a Dracula movie once, at best.

Maybe you can find some poster to say "yes" to that, but it would just be fulfilling your expectations and be a total lie.

Sin is really about not being perfect.

There are underlying factors to sin. And it is not judged from outward appearances, but from the heart.

Salvation is about faith. Not about Law.

Someone who committed suicide shows they had a faith problem... but does not mean that deep inside they did not have faith. People can sin, act or walk in unbelief, but still have a lot of underlying faith: they just temporarily left it behind.


We have laws, police, judges, juries... criminal offenses... someone does something, they get a certain punishment... but people are much more complex then that. The legal system is just to keep some semblance of the peace.


Sin and perfection is about the core of what people are and what God is making them into.

It is far deeper then just "do not do this" list of rules.

 

[98cwitr]

blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can be one sin and damning forever, Freeport. But I know you know that I have to point out that salvation is through faith, but more importantly is through grace, the Grace of God...because I believe that without His grace we would not have faith.

 

[Bro_Sam]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

It depends. Were they born again?

 

[Bro_Sam]

Yes, the Once Saved, Always Saved folks will tell you if a born again believer sins, he still goes to heaven, whereas the "faith plus works" crowd thinks you can lose your salvation by sinning. So the issue is not suicide, but whether a christian can lose their salvation. And we are split on that issue.

The Bible is very clear on the subject.

1. Nothing can separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus your Lord.

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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Neither death nor anything that happens after death, or anything that happens while you're living can separate you from God's love. If there were no other verse in the Bible that deals with eternal security, this one covers the base.


2. When you are saved, you are made perfect forever.

For by one offering He [Jesus] hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)

When Jesus died on the cross, He saved us forever. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sin forever. If we ever lost our salvation, in order for you to be saved again, Jesus would have to die again. By one offering He has perfected forever those who were sanctified.


3. Our Lord always finishes what He begins.

Being confident of this very thing, that He [God] which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

First, the Holy Spirit convicted us of sin. Second, He converted us. And the Convictor and the Converter is also the Completer. If God fails to finish what He's begun God has failed and He cannot fail.


4. You are predestined to be like Jesus.

For whom He [God] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

God saw us before this world was put in space. He saw us repent of our sin and ask Jesus to save us. And when God saw that, not only did He foreknow it, but also He predestinated it. If it is settled in eternity how can it be undone in time?


5. You are in Christ.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you are born again, you are in Christ just like Noah was in the ark. The ark was a picture of Jesus and when Noah went into that ark God shut the door. Noah may have fallen down a lot of times in that ark, but he never fell out of it. Your security is not in a place, it is in a Person and His name is Jesus. And if you're in Jesus, you're secure and if you're not in Jesus you're not secure.


6. You already have eternal life.

Heareth My word, and believeth on him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

Everlasting life is not something you get when you die. Everlasting life is something you get when you receive Jesus. If I have everlasting life, when can it end? Suppose I had it 10 years and it ended. Did I have everlasting life? No, I had a 10-year life. Whatever you have, if you ever lose it, whatever it was it wasn't everlasting.


7. The Lord Jesus Christ is ever interceding for you.

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. (John 17:9)

Jesus also prayed: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil...Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:15, 20). Has Jesus ever prayed a prayer that wasn't answered? No, not one (see John 11:42 and Hebrews 7:25).

 

[Bro_Sam]

So suicide is a sin? If it is then isn't that God can't be around sinners?

God can't be around sinners? How did you come to that conclusion? God is around sinners all the time. He even became a man and lived with sinners for 33 years.

God will certainly be around sinners when they stand before His judgement at the White Throne.

 

[AvgJoe]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

If a person is truly a Christian and commits suicide, they will go to heaven. When one becomes a Christian, God forgives them of all of their sins; past, present and future.

If a non-Christian commits suicide, they will be in hell, not because they committed suicide, but because they have not believed on our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Jpark]

So someone around me asked what happened to people who commit suicide, do they go to heaven or hell? My christian friend had an opinion on this but I want to hear what others have to say.

This is what suicide is:

A person is taking his own life before God's appointed time (a clear violation of God's providence) and he will be promptly judged in hell [Hades]. (Hebrews 9:27; Luke 16:23)

You see, a person has no right to take his own life since all life is in the hands of the God of all flesh. (Jeremiah 32:27)

So yes, suicide is sin.