The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his094/suicide.arj/SUICIDE.TXT

Text File | 1990-02-24 | 3.7 KB | 80 lines

The following questions were asked by a caller concerning the
subject of suicide.  First, let me give an answer to each and
then a more thorough explanation.

Ques #1:  Will God forgive us for suicide?

Answer:  Yes, but only if we are Christians before the suicide.

Ques #2:  Can we be forgiven for a sin if we ask before we commit
the sin?

Answer:  No.

Ques #3:  Do you think we can go to Heaven if we take our own
life?

Answer: Yes, but only if we were Christians.


Your questions are valid, especially for this age when suicide is
on the rise.  First, we must bear in mind that suicide is simply
self-inflicted murder, usually premeditated.  Believers can
commit murder.  Moses and King David illustrate that (Exo. 2:11-
13, 2 Sam. 11:14-27).  Christians can commit any sin of which the
heart is capable.

A person is saved by the grace of God when they repent, believe
and submit to the Lordship of Christ.  These acts are generated
solely by the will of God and not by man's own efforts (Eph.
2:8-9).  Before the earth was even formed God determined who
would be redeemed and who would remain lost.  Man cannot change
God's sovereign choice (see BBB file SECURITY.TXT).  Every
Christian was steeped in sin when God saved them (Rom. 5:8) and
the committing of any sin after salvation cannot remove the Holy
Spirit's seal on our souls.

One's eternal life depends on God's grace and Christ's redemptive
work, not a person's last act before death.  Suicide is not an
unpardonable sin.  There is no question that if a Christian would
commit suicide that they would go to Heaven.  In fact, when the
moment of death comes they are carried into the presence of God
and He will not even mention any of their sins! (Luke 16:22,
Hebrews 8:12).

Asking for forgiveness prior to a sin is a separate sin in
itself, for it is "treading underfeet the very Blood of Jesus."
God sets a person free from the bondage of sin when they are
saved and they therefore do not have to sin.  The unbeliever is
still a slave to sin and cannot keep from sinning.

God the Father loved us so much that He truly gave His Precious
Son Jesus Christ to die in our place.  He does not simply give us
salvation and then leave us alone to despair, rather He sends His
sweet Holy Spirit to guide and protect us.  All we need to do is
to respond to His leading.  A Christian must read God's Word
regularly, pray daily and fellowship with other Believers, even
if we "don't feel like it" for God uses His Word, our prayers and
other Christians to form us into His likeness.

In closing, I submit that no one, not a Christian or an
unbeliever can determine their moment of death.  We have as much
control over the moment of our death as we had over the time of
our birth--none!!  God reminds us that, "He determined the times
set for them [man's birth and death]" (Acts 17:26).  If a person
tries to kill himself and it is not God's chosen moment then that
person will not succeed.  However, their quality of life
remaining may be diminished because of the injuries inflicted.

Satan is the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning
(John 8:44).  He wants to convince Christians that they have
failed so miserably in their Christian life that there is no hope
left, and they should end it all.  He is trying to disgrace the
Name of Jesus and remove another potential Christian witness from
the world.  But God chose the elect and made them His children
and counts each one precious.  No matter how a Christian dies God
declares, "Precious in His sight is the death of His saints"
(Psalm 116:15).