Suicide and Salvation

One of the most common misconceptions among non-believers and Christians alike is that if someone commits suicide they are damned to hell. This is whether or not they were a church goer or Bible believer. This is grossly non-biblical. Here I hope to show you why. There is only one unforgivable sin and this is not it. Let me explain

Suicide and Damnation

Damnation because of suicide is a non-biblical bleed over from 16th century Catholicism. Here it must be noted that the current official Catechism of the Catholic Church says that God will judge those who commit suicide based on the three and it is no longer considered a damnable sin on its own. Now people who commit suicide are given a Christian burial with all the rites and prayers that are associated with it. It is still considered an offense against the 5th commandment in the eyes of the Holy See. But not damnable on its own. There are three conditions that must be met to qualify as a mortal sin. First it must be a “grave matter.” Second the individual must have “full knowledge of the action and overall consequence of that action.” and third “deliberate consent. (Performing the act in sound mind and body)” And the Catechism is clear that all “three conditions must be met” (1857).

Biblical Suicides

With all that said, nowhere in the Holy Bible does it state that someone who commits suicide is condemned to hell because they took their own life. To make this point a little more clear here are just a few notable men from the Bible, men chosen by God who ended their own lives

Samson in Judges 16:26-31, when Samson topples the pillars on top of the Philistines and himself, many believe it was a suicidal act.

Abimelech was a king of Schechem who took over Thebez, but the citizens revolted. Abimelech was struck on the head with a stone thrown by a woman with a rock. He told his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword so people could not say a woman killed him. Judges 9

King Saul, the first King of Israel. He threw himself on his sword after his sons died, and he lost a battle against the Philistines. 1 Samuel 31.

Zimri was the Israeli King. Who killed the previous king, and reigned one week before a military coup. Zimri set himself and his palace ablaze. Found in (1 Kings 16:19).

There are also many cases of Bible figures contemplating suicide. The most notable would be The “prison guard” who supervised Paul and Silas in prison was going to kill himself when he thought all the prisoners had escaped out of a sense of Roman duty and fear. Paul stopped him, who brought him to Christ as recounted in Acts 16:16-40.

The Truth of Salvation

Once you become a believer and accept Jesus as your savior, here is the entire list of what it takes to be saved and go to heaven.

• Sincerely repent of your sins.

• Believe Jesus self-incarnated as a human.

• Lived a sinless life,

• Was crucified as the final sacrifice for our sins.

• Bodily rose from the grave on the third day.

• He is alive and will return to and for his people.

God knows everyone’s heart and everyone who loves and has faith in him. Anyone who puts their faith in Jesus is saved. The Lord Himself promises this in John 11:25-26, “Yeshua said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

There is only one unforgivable sin. Suicide is not even in the same ballpark. Fear not for your loved one if you have lost someone to suicide. God knows who they are, and He will never let them go.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the number below.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255

Until next time. Be blessed.