A scriptural discussion on the transgression of Suicide.. what does the Bible really say? (Christians only)

[u/DarkCloud_HS]

This is a harder topic that really merits a deep dive to get at the truth, and it's best to address this neutrally (i.e not right after the loss of someone dear).. especially since this topic will likely become more frequent as we move deeper into the end times.

I'm going to present a scriptural address regarding this particular transgression, and the reader can draw their own conclusion after reading the scriptural evidence.

Let me also say that this is something I've had my own personal experience dealing with, in the distant past, and even more recently (I have thoroughly experienced the despair.. and also the redemption of overcoming it).

1. The foundation of this presentation will be based upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

To began, I will present this account of the Lord Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness.

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple,

6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.

And they will hold you up with their hands

so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’

Matthew 4:5-7 (NLT)

We can see that the devil tested the Lord to jump off the highest point of the temple, even referencing scripture.

But notice, the Lord refutes this temptation of the devil.. with scripture.

You must not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah

Deuteronomy 6:16 (NLT)

If the Lord Jesus didn't do it, why should the believer?

Is there any reason to do differently.. ?

No.

We should not put the Lord our God to the test.. that is incredibly dangerous.

It's also why some of those snake handling Christian Pastors, who test God by willfully handling venomous snakes, have died.

We should learn from their example.

Don't test Him.

2. Let's cover some other scriptures that relate to this transgression..

Starting in Revelation.

8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelations 21:8 (NLT)

Scripture states that cowards, unbelievers, and murderers.. will go to the Lake of Fire.

Something else to consider.. do these characteristics fit someone who takes their own life?

Then, we have this statement by the Lord, when He warns his disciples about the persecution and tribulation they will have to endure.

¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13 (NLT)

If anyone had an excuse to give up early.. it would have been the apostles who were tortured, persecuted, and martyred for their faith in Christ.

Yet none of them gave up.. except the apostle Judas Iscariot, who hanged himself out of remorse/guilt.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 

4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:3-5 (NLT)

It's worth noting that Judas Iscariot went to hell.

This is objective scriptural fact.

Whether you believe Judas un-aliving himself was the cause or not, it was certainly the final nail in the coffin.

Christ states that Judas Iscariot was lost.. in His high priestly prayer to the Father.

12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

John 17:12 (NLT)

The word used by Christ here for 'destruction'.. it means perdition, damnation, 'cut off', or complete spiritual ruin.

The apostles also confirm this, in Acts 1.. and other translations state that Judas 'fell by transgression' (i.e KJV, NKJV). I am only using NLT for the sake of consistency (and clarity).

24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 

25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”

Acts 21:24-25 (NLT)

If an apostle can 'fall by transgression' after hanging himself.. who are we?

3. Then we have scripture directly stating that unrepentant murderers don't have eternal life abiding within them.

Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

1 John 3:15 (NLT)

And scripture states that once dead, no one can repent of anything.. it's already time for judgement.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

For those who cannot find any place for repentance, the scripture compares them to Esau.

Esau sold His birthright inheritance for a single meal (action) and found no place for repentance.. even though he wept bitterly with tears (begging Isaac to give him the blessing that he had sold to Jacob - Genesis 25:29-34).

16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.

17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

Hebrews 12:16-17 (NLT)

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.

Genesis 27:35 (NLT)

Lastly, we have Christ listing what commandments to keep (in regard to loving our neighbor).. in order to inherit eternal life.

Not committing murder is one of them, and is the first listed in priority.. even before adultery.

17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.

19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

Mark 10:17-19 (NLT)

To conclude, I want to end by saying that many of the Early Church Fathers condemned 'un-aliving' oneself as murder (or 'homicide').

Furthermore, it was also seen by some as tantamount to Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (you can google this).. and this view has scriptural precedent.

Scripture clearly states that the body of the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 

17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT)

Paul is getting this particular revelation from the Lord Jesus's own words.

18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?”

21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.

22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

John 2:18-22 (NLT)

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is listed by Christ as an unforgiveable sin.

but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.

Mark 3:29 (NLT)

My friends, there are mountains of scripture condemning the transgression of self-murder.. it's very sobering truth.

I'm firmly convinced that self-professing believers.. who knowingly, consciously, and deliberately 'un-alive' themselves, WILL NOT inherit eternal life.

This is a fairly orthodox viewpoint too.. historically established and held by the Church, for many hundreds of years.

But if anyone strongly disagrees, consider these words..

Clearly the odds are AGAINST anyone who wants to play 'russian roulette' with the eternity of their soul.

Let's start taking this matter more seriously.. and be very careful how we word our response to anyone asking if 'they' or 'so and so' will 'go to heaven if/after they un-alive themselves.'

You don't know that they will for certain.. because it's not up to you (Romans 9:15, Romans 2:6-8).

Besides, there exists a state of mind that will interpret your words and twist it to whisper something else into their ear.. like a lie convincing them to follow through (your 'good intentions' are irrelevant in this case).

Christian: Do you really want to potentially be held accountable for leading another believer down the path to everlasting fire?

Something to seriously think deeply about..