I'm wondering if a Christian commits suicide, are they still saved or did they die in sin at that instant? Do you think God would pardon such a sinful act? For the Bible says, "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." ~1 Corinthians 3:17. I would love to know your thoughts on this, please back your opinions with Biblical scriptures. Thank you
I do not know what rhetorical means,i was not in school that day or a lot of days,and the days i was in school obviously i did not learn a lot.
Let us look at two suicides in the Scriptures,as we need a Biblical understanding on this matter.
First there is King Saul land his armor bearer,remember during the battle with the Philistines Saul is wounded and .
1Sam 31:1 And the Philistines were fighting against Israel. And the men of Israel fled from the face of the Philistines, and they fell down wounded in Mount Gilboa.
1Sam 31:2 And the Philistines followed Saul and his sons. And the Philistines struck Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
1Sam 31:3 And the battle went hard against Saul. And the archers, men with the bow, found him and he was sorely wounded by the archers.
1Sam 31:4 And Saul said to his armorbearer, Draw your sword and thrust it through me, lest these uncircumcised ones come and thrust it through me and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not, for he was much afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.
1Sam 31:5 And his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, and he also fell on his sword and died with him.
Next we have Judas,what can we say about Judas.
Mat 27:3 Then Judas, the one betraying Him, seeing that He was condemned, repenting, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
Mat 27:4 saying, I sinned, betraying innocent blood. But they said, What is it to us? You see to it.
Mat 27:5 And tossing the silver pieces into the temple, he left. And going away he hanged himself.
There is nothing good said about Judas.yet Saul,well.
My question is;Why would a believer want to take their own life?
A Believer wouldn't!!!...only those that are lead by the unholy spirit and/or have turned away and rejected Jesus would commit suicide...such as both Saul and Judas...
While most will firmly disagree with many things that the Roman Catholic Church teaches, we seem to carry over this idea that anyone who commits suicide goes to hell. However we�ve adapted this idea to our own liking, we don�t say they lost their state of grace, but we say they were never there to begin with. But I must ask, where do we get the authority to make such an assumption?
First we have to answer another question: can Christians suffer from mental illness? My answer, is an adamant yes. While many people deny this, I do not see where we can find any authority to deny this reality any more than we can deny the reality of Christians who suffer from cancer or heart complications. The brain is part of the body, just like the heart and body cells that may turn cancerous. Our bodies are fallen, and we live in a fallen world. Things go wrong, whether it�s blood cells or brain cells. Since we live in a fallen world, and in fallen, frail bodies, things can go wrong, and become imbalanced in such a way that affects our mindsets and emotions. Just because someone suffers from a mental illness does not mean they are not right with God. Spirituality is in no way related to serotonin levels.
So if a Christian can suffer from mental illness, can this result in suicide? Yes.
Let�s not lump the two together though. While Christians can suffer from mental illness, this does not mean that they will commit suicide, and it does not mean that suicide is justified. It is easier for someone with mental illness to commit suicide, but it is not a necessary action. Nor is it a proper one.
Suicide is a sin. It is self-murder, a clear denial of God�s law when He said �You shall not murder.� (Exodus 20:13) And it cannot be excused. But it can be forgiven.
Murder is a sin, just like adultery. Just like premarital sex. Jesus said if you look on woman with lust in your heart, you have committed adultery. He also said that to hate is just like committing murder. Now how many of us are guiltless of these sins?
Yet we will judge someone who has committed suicide? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Just because someone has committed suicide, doesn�t make them a worse sinner than someone who hates their brother. It just means they�re more visible doing it. And just because they have committed suicide does not mean they are not a Christian, and it does not mean they cannot be forgiven. God forgives murders all the time. Why should forgiveness be held back from these souls suffering from mental illness?
God has justified His children already, through the atonement of Christ that made satisfaction with God for all sins of His people past, present and future�there is no wrath left. There is no more condemnation.
�There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.� � Romans 8:1-4
This is not limited to those who are not suicidal. It is a blessed truth of God�s justification of His children, regardless of their mental state. �Who shall bring any charge against God�s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died�more than that, who was raised�who is at the right hand of God who indeed is interceding for us.� (Romans 8:34)
If someone has shown a consistent testimony fitting of a Christian, and have maintained a profession of faith in Christ, there is no reason to doubt their conversion because they committed suicide. There is forgiveness for them just as there is for anyone who has committed sin.
God has seen fit to offer forgiveness to all of His children, who are we to withhold it from a brother or sister who has fallen prey to this act?
A friend I was discussing this with brought up a question that is sure to be on some people�s minds. �Will He still accept them home with open arms?� Yes, He will. Has His love ever been conditional?
If all of our sin was laid on Christ on the cross, and the wrath of God was poured out on His Son to atone for the sins of His people, why would He be cold to one who has committed suicide? There is no wrath left, God knew that the person would commit that sin and it was atoned for just like the rest. There are no exceptions to God�s forgiveness.
Due to the merit of Christ�s work on our behalf, those who are afflicted with mental illness, and take their life, have just as much forgiveness as any other Christian. If there is a consistent Christian testimony and a strong profession of faith in Christ, even at the bitter end, there is no reason to doubt that the person, even if they commit suicide, are regenerate.
And what constitutes mental illness? Could a person who is so very seriously depressed actually be in a mentally ill state?
"Question:Why would a person commit suicide,maybe not trusting Messiah to bring them through.
Just asking a question."
I will give you my example.
Depression leads to death...Reasons for depressions could be different...
I said to Ella:
" thank u Ella.
ur words made me to cry.
U know I think more often to stop my life...
I think I failed to complete the race of life...
I think God needs other people..not me...However till the last minute I will help
Him to make Him known...
I think I have right to stop my life!
Let such people like u complete it.
Let such like me will be judged. That is correct too.
I just hate this life which He gave me and I refuse to play in this "computer" game of our Creator.
I dream to stop my life....and I think now I am more close to the end then ever...
And I think it is my right!"
RESPONSE of Ella:
No, No, No! Maria, you have no rights when it comes to your life. You didn't give yourself life, that is a gift from God, so it is His choice not your's to stop your life. This is why taking your life will only lead you to hell, becasue when such an act of stopping your life is done, then what you're are telling God is that He is not worthy of you and you don't appreciate His gift of life He has given you.
Therefore, God says, when you disrespect His gift of life He has freely given you, and you no longer respect Him as your Father then He will send you to hell to be with your father satan who is causing to reject the blessings of life God has given to you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you snap out of all that negative talking about stopping your life... call out to the Lord in prayer and He will always answer you. He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you...
Read Psalms 23; and Psalm 121... how can you stop your life after all the good work you have done helping the lost to find the Lord Jesus Christ?
How can you stop your life and speak so negative after you have helped so many people come into the light of God's truths?
How can you let the devil put you in his darkness and make you think your life is not worthy of living as God has called you to be one of His servants?
Don't be a fool for the devil, be a fool for Christ and keep living the good life God has given you. Read those Psalms and pray for God to give you His power and strength.
I love you an I pray for you to keep going on... yes, the road gets hard, but with God on our side we can never fall. The apostle Paul went through much more than you are going through and he never gave up. I have experienced many struggles and hard-times, and sometimes I felt like giving up, but God was my stay and helped me to realize its the devil who comes to steal, kill, and destroy the good that we are, and make us give up, so he can laugh in God's face about us... So don't let the devil trick you with his lies to stop your life... cry out to God and He will be there for you. The devil likes when we give up or stop our lives, because then you can't ministry to those who need the word you give them from God.
Hang in there sweetheart.. the storm will soon pass over and God will make things better for you.
It's a bit unrelated, but I know quite a few faithful believers that are suffering from Alzheimer and dementia. They simply have forgotten who they are and are acting pretty terribly, definitely not like the christian they were. I think God has quite a lot of mercy for people suffering from mental illness or delusion.
*** Hidden�.Did not both Saul and Judas have Grace at one time?�Saul was appointed King and Ruler was Blessed and turned and rejected God�.Judas was called by Christ Jesus walked with him in the physical and turned and rejected�Both of these men �fell from Grace��Some folks say neither were really what we would call �Christian��they were double minded and some folks say they were chosen vessels for depravity. Either way it is looked at it still must measured by Scripture�
*** You shared the scripture... Suicide is a sin. It is self-murder, a clear denial of God�s law when He said �You shall not murder.� (Exodus 20:13) And it cannot be excused. But it can be forgiven.
*** Jesus says�Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
*** If Jesus says it then it is so...
*** Jesus judges...the quick and the dead...we must preach the doctrine...
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
1 Peter 4:5 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
*** We as well as the suicide casualties shall give accout and Only Abba knows the intentions and the heart of the matter...
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So by your way of thinking versavia, everyone that suffers from an illness God has appointed? Why would God be selective and choose only some illnesses and not others? Was it God who made you to be depressed?
