What Does The Bible Say About Suicide?


If someone commits suicide do they go to hell?
To get a correct answer one must look at the whole of the Bible. Many will say that God said in the 10 commandments, “Thou shalt not kill” [Exodus 20:13] which they extend to killing yourself is a sin.  Therefore, if someone “murders themselves” they break the sixth commandment and do not have time to confess and repent from that sin, therefore will spend eternity in hell.  Furthermore, some believe Christians are not supposed to suffer from depression. If their faith was strong enough then they would not want to kill themselves. These statements do not take into account the entirety of the Bible.  Lets look at each of these statements.
1)  If someone “murders themselves” they break the sixth commandment and do not have time to repent from that sin therefore will spend eternity in hell.
  • We Will Be Judged For Our Sin
    • This is absolutely correct!  Anyone who commits any sin and dies with it  in an unconfessed state will have to give an account for it.  This means if someone cheats, steals, has lustful thoughts or even tells a little white lie, their transgressions will be on their register to give account for.  God will judge us according to our sins.
      • Romans 2:16 [NLT] “And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.”
      • Romans 14:10-12 [NLT]  Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
  • God Gives Mercy and Grace
    • No sin goes unpunished however there is only one sin recorded in the bible that keeps us from the presence of God (sends us to hell) which is the sin of denying Christ.
      • Matthew 12:31-32 [NLT] 31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either  in this world or in the world to come.
    • A Christian CANNOT commit the “Unpardonable Sin” of denying Christ because they have Christ within them.
      • [Romans 8:1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus
  • Application
    • If someone kills themselves and they have never accepted Christ into their life as Savior and Lord, then yes they will go to hell. Anyone who dies without Christ will go to hell.
      • To reject God is to follow Satan.  Hell was created for Satan and his followers.  Those who follow Satan find his fate as theirs.
    • If a Christian kills themselves, yes they have committed a sin but they will still go to heaven and be judged but not banished for any unconfessed sin, just like everyone else.
2)  Christians are not supposed to suffer from depression, if their faith was strong enough then they would not want to kill themselves.
  • Depression and despair is a reality among Christian and Non-Christians.  Even biblical heroes of our faith suffered with depression and despair.
    • The Bible mentions six specific people who committed suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Saul's armor-bearer (1 Samuel 31:4-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Five of them were wicked, sinful men (not enough is said regarding Saul's armor-bearer to make a judgment as to his character). Some consider Samson an instance of suicide (Judges 16:26-31), but Samson's goal was to kill the Philistines, not himself. The Bible views suicide as equal to murder, which is what it is—self-murder. God is the only one who is to decide when and how a person should die.
  • Just like Christians go to Doctors for physical healing, Christians seek counseling for mental healing as well.
    • There are many people both believers and non-believers who live with and are treated for mental illnesses.
  • Satan wants to destroy God’s most prized creation (You and I)
    • John 10:10 [NLT]  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
      • Suicide is a momentary decision that has fatal consequences.  For many it is a bad decision at a bad moment in their life that they cannot correct.  Much like misjudging the speed of an approaching car.  If you decide to pull out into the intersection at the wrong time, you will get hit.  The effects of the impacts cannot be undone.
      • Satan uses people and when he is done with them he destroys them.  His one desire is to see God’s precious creation suffer and fail.
      • Satan is a Murderer [John 8:44]
    • The Bible teaches that from the moment we truly believe in Christ, we are guaranteed eternal life (John 3:16). According to the Bible, Christians can know beyond any doubt that they possess eternal life (1 John 5:13). Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). If no “created thing” can separate a Christian from God’s love, and even a Christian who commits suicide is a “created thing,” then not even suicide can separate a Christian from God’s love.
SUICIDE IS NOT GOD’S PLAN!
  • God desires life for us not death.  Anyone who consistently rejects the Holy Spirit of God wanting to work in their life moves one step further away from the security and acceptance of being in God’s will.  Scaring people into thinking if they will go to hell if they commit suicide may be the very thing that pushes them to do it.  They already feel unworthy of love, they may feel like the need to be punished.  Love others, treat them as God would and pray!
  • God gives us life more abundantly [John 10:10]  Do not believe the lie that you are unloved and unworthy.  God created you and called you good!  Fight and run to Him. He has never left you, just turn around.
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