#270 - Suicide and Salvation

Suicide by anyone is a terrible tragedy filled with uncertainty by those who kill themselves and those who will miss them. Unfortunately, it is a reality in this world. But what about a Christian who commits suicide? Or, is it possible that a Christian can commit suicide? And does that Christian lose salvation? This presentation is from GraceLife's GraceNotes series, no. 26. It follows previous discussions of eternal security, and the extent of God's forgiveness. Suicide of the Christian relates to those issues. Some think that a Christian, who commits suicide cannot be forgiven because a dead person cannot ask for forgiveness or repent from their sin. The question is, is God's grace, big enough to cover even in an confessed sin like suicide. It is clear from the Scriptures that suicide is a sin because it is taking a life that does not belong to that person (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Some would use 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 to argue that a suicide is punished with eternal destruction, but that passage is talking about the church and a temporal ruin that comes to those who harm the church. Some people would say that someone who commits suicide proves that he or she was not a true believer. But the Bible evidences Christians are capable of all kinds of sins. If someone dies with unconfessed sin, there is comfort in the promise of 1 John 1:9 that God cleanses us not only from confessed sins, but from "all unrighteousness." This is a condition of fellowship with God, not salvation. Besides, all believers have some sins they are unaware of and therefore unconfessed. Romans 5:20 promises that God's grace always exceeds our sins, and that would include the terrible sin of suicide. This should not be an excuse to commit the act, but a reason to live and grow in that grace and serve God. #GraceNotes26#SuicideSalvation#GraceLifeMinistries#AbundantGrace