Suicide

I want the truth where do we go if we commit suicide? PLEASE I WANT THE TRUTH?

 

Great question Joann. Most people know someone who has either attempted or committed suicide. My brother committed suicide 22 years ago and I still experience deep pain in my soul over his loss. Let me share two important Scriptures that can help us with the answer to your question. 1 John 3:15 states: “Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” Revelation 21:8 says something similar, even including liars as sharing in the second death of the lake of fire. These are very sobering Scriptures. Suicide is murder of oneself, so it falls into this category. The Roman Catholic Church believes that all suicide victims immediately go to hell because it is a mortal sin that was not repented of before death (they believe that only venial sins can be forgiven in purgatory). I do not believe in purgatory or second chances (Lk 13:25; 16:19-31; Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 6:2; Mt 25:1-13; Job 16:22; Mt 12:32; Lk 12:10; Mk 3:29; Mt 26:24), so what we decide in this life determines our eternal future.

The second passage is Romans 8:38: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is a promise to all believers similar to John 10:27-30 and Hebrews 13:5. The true believer already has eternal life (1 John 5:13) and therefore is guaranteed heaven. In Romans 8:38 he says that nothing and no one, not even oneself (nor any other created thing) can separate the true believer from God’s love.

So how do we put these two Scriptures together that seem to be in tension? If one is in Christ, he or she has eternal life (Ephesians 1:3-14). If one is not in Christ, he or she will be held accountable for all his or her sins committed in this life. We don’t go to heaven based on our works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but we do go to hell based on our works (Revelation 20:13). Suicide is a grievous sin against God, oneself and one’s family. Suicide, which is murder, can only be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. The real question is, “Can a true believer commit suicide?” Many people call themselves Christians when they are not. The Bible is clear: to become a Christian we must repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus, outwardly expressing that faith in baptism (Acts 2:37-38). There must be a time when we cross from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13-14). We must be born again (John 3:3). True faith includes surrender to Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Real faith will inevitably produce the fruit of a changed life (James 2:26; Matthew 7:15-20). But how much fruit is necessary? Fruit doesn’t save us; it is only an indicator that we are saved. Jesus gave a parable about the four soils of the heart, teaching that the true believer will produce “some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). We bear fruit to various degrees depending on the power of God and our willingness to follow His leading. Free will can get in the way!

So how does all this pertain to suicide? People commit suicide for various reasons. Most of the time the person is suffering with severe depression. Depression is the kind of thing that can completely debilitate a person and cloud their reasoning. We want to pray for, show kindness to and help in whatever capacity we can all who suffer depression. Blame is not helpful. I believe it is possible for even a believer to commit suicide when suffering deep bouts of depression. If the person was a true believer he or she will go to heaven even if he or she committed suicide. The most important thing is to make sure we are a true believer (2 Peter 1:10). My brother was a true believer. He loved Jesus. I led him to Christ myself and saw the fruit of salvation in his life. He also suffered from depression. He was scarred at an early age and never got over it. He didn’t get help. I recommend all people who suffer from depression to consider three things: 1) Get involved in a good, Bible teaching church and a small group where fellowship and prayer is prevalent. 2) Get help professionally if they are even considering suicide. 3) Be open to medicine that can help with depression. Just like a diabetic needs insulin, many people are considerably helped by antidepressants. I wish my brother would have taken antidepressants. I hope this helps.

 

God bless,

 

Pastor Larry