Can a person commit suicide and still go to heaven, Bible references please?

Question

First of all, its not me that wants to commit suicide. Many of you read the details to my last question, many did not, so let me reiterate for a framework to this question, which is a different question entirely. A Christian three nights ago emailed me asking about suicide, he was thinking about it and one source told him suicide results in hell automatically and another told him a different thing, that it doesn't mean hell automatically.
I emailed him Judges 16:29-30; but stated this disturbs me it gives me nightmares and I'm not sure God ever said it was ok to do what Sampson did. The man is alive as of last night he was blogging and offering to pray for other people, so, thats good.

So what is the Biblical position on suicide. I ask so that if this ever happens again to me or any of us, we can know what to say to Christians to encourage them to stay alive.

I was very much freaked out last night that "I was not my brothers keeper" and didn't give good Bible verses.

Answer 1

With the suicidal .. The idea of "reincarnation" - if they believe in it- has a better ratio of discouraging that action .. convince them that they simply might come back to live the exact same lessons (with an added dram of willpower to handle them ) and suddenly- if they believe that- their escape plan doesn't seem like such a good idea ... Odd how mere "selfresponsibility" has that affect on people ... rather than the carrot and stick of promised heavens and and threatened hells ...

Answer 2

Many folk consider suicide as an unpardonable sin. If you are interested in considered a few verses on justification look at Romans 1:17, 3:20-28, 4:25, 5:9. 5:18, Galatians 2, 3.

Answer 3

Tough question. I don't believe there is a scripture for this, unless you use this one: 1 John 3:15. Scripture plainly declares that murderers cannot be saved. Killing yourself is murder.
When a person commits suicide, they are not trusting in God (without faith it is impossible to please Him). They are also depriving others of the chance of salvation (everyone knows people that only they can reach with the gospel). It is possible, but not likely, that they have been filled with the Holy Ghost. 99.9% of Holy Ghost filled people have joy - suicide is far from their thinking.
It is hard to know the words to say to someone who is such a state of mind. My brother called me one night a few months ago, on the verge of suicide. All you can do is encourage tham that things will get better and they need to trust God.
You could recommend that they go the nearest pentecostal or apostolic church for prayer - they believe in miracles and the baptism of the Holy ghost for every person (Assembly of God are not truly pentecostal).
Hope this helps.

No sin is unforgivable if it is repented of. A dead person cannot repent.
Perhaps someone who commits suicide may be saved yet - but it is too risky to find out the hard way.

Answer 4

The Bible says the only unforgiveable sin is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. If someone has truly repented and turned their life over to Christ, their sins are covered: past, present and future.

However, while suicide doesn't mean automatic hell, I would be very concerned that it was an indication of a false convert. Obviously suicide is a sin, and sin is displeasing to God. Someone considering this may not have a clear picture of what God has done for them. He does have a plan. When Paul's prison guard (not certain of reference) was about to commit suicide, Paul stopped him and led him to the Lord. I am scared for your friend that he is not truly saved. IF he is, and that's a big IF, then suicide will not bar him from heaven.

Answer 5

I wouldn't recommend trusting Wikipedia 100% but it does have an article on the topic, which has some interesting viewpoints. It seems to depend on your denomination. The long and the short of it, though, is this single sentence. If Wiki's wrong, I hope someone will correct me:

"While suicide is certainly treated in a negative way in the Bible, there is, however, no specific verse that explicitly states that suicide leads directly to Hell."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_suicide

Answer 6

I don't think you can find that in the Bible. I asked a priest that question once, and he told me that Saint Juan Bautista Maria Vianney, the saint priest of Ars, France, in certain ocasion that a widow came to ask him about her husband, who had commited suicide, and he told her: "Madam, don't you worry. Between the bridge and the water there was a distance, and God's mercy is very great"
But don't misunderstand me. God does not like suicide in general. The idea was, besides God's mercy, that the man had repented in that brief moment before dying

Answer 7

This is a tough question because it depends on the situation I believe. If a person is down on life and does themself in, that is plain and simple murder of self. The Bible is clear on murder...thou shall not. However, say you have an illness that you are dying from and you are in horrible pain that cannot be controlled adequately. You decide to end it all. I think God is a loving God that would understand you could not continue to suffer anymore.

Answer 8

One of the 10 commandments #13 Thou Shalt not Kill!
committing suicide, is killing yourself
Lamatations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait the salvation of the Lord.
Nahum 1:7 & 8 the Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them them that trust in him.
But with an over running flood he will makw an utter end of the place there of, and darkness shall persue his enemies.
1 Peter 5: 8 - 10 Whom Having not seen, ye love; in whom; though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Of which salvationthe prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who phrophsied of the grace that should come unto you

This is all I could find. I hope it helps!!

Answer 9

My uncle committed suicide and my friend's Jewish Grandmother told me this which I hold onto. I can't give you a bible verse but a Jewish belief. That although strictly forbidden (like most religions) if you are in your right state of mind and kill yourself you have committed murder BUT if you are NOT in your right state of mind you are no more accountable for your actions then a child that doesn't know better. It is truly believe no one would commit suicide if they were in there right state of mind. There for God will treat them with the loving and understanding that they did not find when they were alive. I hope that helps.

Answer 10

Biblical position: adding law to "grace is sufficient" is suicide-all; since adding law to grace makes it no more grace, just as adding death to life makes it no more eternal life.

It's absurd for a Christ-ian to consider suicide; since Christ is "the end of the law", thereby the end of sin, death, and hell. Christ is our peace (not division) who hath abolished the law.

Perhaps your friend is Mt 22: 36-40 law law or Rom 8:2 law law, a bewitched Christian who's unaware the second of such law law is "like the first", it's "law": sin and death followed by hell. If such is the case, my advice would be get out of the church he got bewitched in. Come out from among them, for as in them(as in Adam: Gen 5) all die: 1Cor 15.

As for heaven, it's higher than the heavens on high, above such law law heavens where even the right hand of law law God is law. Not to mention we're told mind not high things, and be not highminded; but rather be Christ minded, mind the higher God.

The "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 11

Yes but only according to Gods Mercy as there are no sins beyond the Mercy of God. However it is spiritually condemed and no one should encourage suicide, only simply attempt to improve wolrd conditions to be blessed and be a blessing to the others suffering around you, there is alwasy someone suffering more than ourselves.