Suicide, a Hellish Answer to the Problems of Life

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Just recently, the head of a well-respected Christian ministry was found dead. It was determined after the coroner's report that he had died by his own hand. Once again, questions are being asked as to whether suicide is the unpardonable sin. This has been debated throughout the centuries, but most people that believe it is the unpardonable sin do so without Scriptural proof.

There are many verses that refer to sin, and many that refer to forgiveness. There are even verses that speak of certain sins that are unpardonable, but there is no definitive verse that even can be construed to teach that suicide is somehow unpardonable.

Two of the most well-known characters in the Bible that committed suicide are Saul, the king of Israel and Judas, the son of perdition. Let's take one at a time.

King Saul - Saul was at the end of his reign and had disobeyed the Lord several times over. Finally, his last act as a king was to fight the Philistines in a no-win situation from an un-advantageous location. During the battle, he was mortally wounded. In order to not give his opponents the satisfaction of capturing him alive and torturing him, he fell on his sword and died. He committed suicide. (Read for yourself in 1 Chronicles 10). Just before the battle, Saul inquired of a medium, we know as the witch of Endor, in complete rebellion againt God's Law. Samuel was called upon and God brought Samuel back to tell Saul these chilling but enlightening words:

The LORD will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines. (1 Samuel 28:19, HCSB)

Remember, Samuel is dead. Samuel knows God. Samuel is in paradise. Saul was told by Samuel that he would be with him the very next day in spite of his suicide. In the Old Testament, it doesn't seem to indicate that suicide is the unpardonable sin.

Judas Iscariot - Now, let's get to the suicide of Judas. The explanation goes this way: Judas was a disciple of Jesus. Judas was called the son of "perdition" which means "eternal damnation" (John 17:12). Jesus said that it would have been better had he never been born (Mark 14:21). Therefore, according to those who say suicide is the unpardonable sin, he went to eternal damnation because of his suicide. However, his damnation was more about his betrayal of the Son of God rather than a suicide. Once he committed to do the heinous act, Satan himself entered him to accomplish the task and see it through to the end (John 13:2). There is no where in Scripture where a believer is possessed by Satan. Judas never was a believer. To assure we knew that, we are told that he was even robbing the ministry's money chest for his own personal gain (John 12:4-6).

Now, as far as sin is concerned, where does suicide fall? It is a horrible sin. It is a hellish sin. It is a self-centered, narcissistic sin. It is a horrible way to solve problems; it only throws their problems onto the shoulders of those who loved the self-murderer most. That is why it is such a hellish sin. Ultimately, it causes the one who commits suicide to take the place of God, who alone is to have the power over life and death. God loves life and is the God of life. God has such disdain for death that He changed the description of death for New Testament believers from "death" to "fall asleep." Death was overcome for every believer when Jesus rose from the dead.

So, what is the unpardonable sin? Jesus said that every sin man committed would be forgiven him... Adultery? Yes. Fornication? Yes. Murder. Yes. Drunkeness? Yes. Lying? Yes. Suicide? Yes. You name it and God will forgive it. The only sin is that is unpardonable is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10; Mark 12:32). In its simplest terms, that means those who have rejected the leading of the Holy Spirit to come to the Son of God for their forgiveness. They have refused to trust Him to forgive them of their sin. The good news is, while there's life there's hope. The unpardonable sin will only be unpardonable to those who refuse to believe in the name of the Son of God and die in their sins.

Hallelujah, what a Savior! Do you know Him? Then your sin are forgiven, and He says enter into the joys of My Kingdom. That's how much He loves us. He died for us when we were still sinners. All our sins, past, present, and future are forgiven.

After all, I'm only assured heaven by His forgivenness and grace,

Pastor Trey Rhodes