Can a person who commits suicide be forgiven?

by Jeannie
(Denver, CO)

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Sampson commits suicide,
Judges 16:28ff.

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My heart grieves with you over the loss of your beloved son. I know the pain a family experiences when a loved one commits suicide. It is gut-wrenching and feels like the sadness will never end.

God our heavenly Father also knows the heartache of losing His beloved Son. Although Jesus didn't commit suicide, He did voluntarily lay down His life as the sacrifice for our sins. God our heavenly Father knows the grief, the sense of loss you feel because His loving heart experienced the loss of His only begotten Son.

My younger brother David, a born again Christian, took his own life on January 19, 2000, a day seared in my memory. The answer to your question is, Yes, one who commits suicide can be forgiven.

I've learned by personal experience, some things to remember about suicide.

1. I know that God's comfort is real.
   
2. I know that a measure of understanding does eventually come.
3. I know that broken hearts do eventually heal.

Based on the promises of God in the Bible, I also know my brother David is with the Lord now. The Bible does not have an exception clause for suicide, which says, If you commit suicide you can't go to heaven. Some churches teach that but they are wrong.

Eleven days before he took his own life, I spoke with my brother on the phone. He was in a happy mood and talked about heaven and how great it would be to go there. I had no clue that he was then planning to take his own life.

There are seven suicides
in the Bible.

1. Abimelech - Judges 9:52-54
   
   
2. Samson - Judges 16:25-30 - The way we know that Sampson's suicide did not send him to Hell is that he is mentioned positively in Hebrews 11:32 as one of the heroes of the faith, not as someone who is in hell.
   
   
3. Saul - 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Chronicles 10:4
   
   
4. Saul's armour-bearer - 1 Samuel 31:4
   
   
5. Ahithophel - 2 Samuel 17:23
   
   
6. Zimri - 1 Kings 16:15-20
   
   
7. Judas - Matthew 27:3-5, Acts 1:18

If you are thinking about committing suicide, DON'T!

God has something better than suicide for you and your family. Seek counseling help where you live, keep trusting God, pour out your heart to God in prayer and fill your heart with the promises of God. He will begin to heal your hurt and restore your joy.

Suicide is a permanent solution for a temporary problem. Don't compound your family's problems by responding to suicide by taking your own life.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

What is God's grace?

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