Does Suicide Bar Christians from Heaven?

[colossians323]

What of those who die without ever hearing the Word of God? Is there no way for them to gain salvation?

Romans 1 covers that. God is a just a righteous judge. He will judge as he sees fit. For the person living in the jungle that never hears Jesus' name, He can see the handy work of God and recognize that he exists, and is wonderful and mighty. I have underlined the pertinent parts that show that no one will be able to say they did not know who God was. One look at the majesty of His creation and you will know

Romans 1:18-25
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

[Not a Cook]

What of those who die without ever hearing the Word of God? Is there no way for them to gain salvation?

If they died without Christ, they have no hope. BUT... Read Romans chapter 1. No human being is without excuse for rejecting God. And again: it is by God's grace that He saves any one of us. NONE of us deserve His mercy, grace, patience, kindness,or love. We all deserve His holy wrath. I am quite satisfied that God is gracious to all mankind; if this question truly bothers you, learn to trust in His grace being far greater than ours, and thank Him for making the gospel known to you. Stop worrying about a fictional person who (per Romans 1) is already without excuse for rejecting God even though that person is surrounded by evidence of God's character. And get busy telling the good news to all around you.

FWIW... there are many, many, many former Muslims coming to Christ in this present time all over the Middle East in places where the gospel is not being preached. God is using visions of Christ and angelic messengers to get the gospel to those we are not reaching. Again... God is awesome. Rather than focus on the hypothetical what-ifs, we ought rather be busy giving out the gospel of Christ to all around us, just as He commanded us.

As the Lord told Peter in John 21 when Peter was asking about John, "...what is that to you? You follow me."

[colossians323]

Thanks Colossians. I was getting mixed messages because you have replied in question form, without stating your position.

Although we are all brothers/sisters in faith, there are many interpretations of the mystery of faith spread between the OT and the New Covenant, prophets and Jesus's parables, Catholicism and the Reformation, and even faith and science.

I just want to soak up as much information about faith and grace as I can, and try to live in grace by my works.

I agree, i am not sure how some don't understand we are all brothers in sisters in Christ, and that Catholic, or Protestant, we worship and claim the same God whose name is Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Immanuel, Yeshua

[colossians323]

If they died without Christ, they have no hope. BUT... Read Romans chapter 1. No human being is without excuse for rejecting God. And again: it is by God's grace that He saves any one of us. NONE of us deserve His mercy, grace, patience, kindness,or love. We all deserve His holy wrath. I am quite satisfied that God is gracious to all mankind; if this question truly bothers you, learn to trust in His grace being far greater than ours, and thank Him for making the gospel known to you. Stop worrying about a fictional person who (per Romans 1) is already without excuse for rejecting God even though that person is surrounded by evidence of God's character. And get busy telling the good news to all around you.

FWIW... there are many, many, many former Muslims coming to Christ in this present time all over the Middle East in places where the gospel is not being preached. God is using visions of Christ and angelic messengers to get the gospel to those we are not reaching. Again... God is awesome. Rather than focus on the hypothetical what-ifs, we ought rather be busy giving out the gospel of Christ to all around us, just as He commanded us.

As the Lord told Peter in John 21 when Peter was asking about John, "...what is that to you? You follow me."

Amen and amen

[Barang]

@MotoriousRacing - This is one of the most debated concepts among current Christians. Just look in this very thread for completely contradictory viewpoints. IE the responses of Barang and BlackReef.

What I see is most people have trouble because the bible does seem to contradict itself. For instance Ephesians 2:8-9 states-

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

While James 2:24 says

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

One verse says by faith only, and the other says not by faith only. So what happens is people explain how they make sense together.

How I see it is that Christ paid for our sins, a debt we can never repay, and never earn ourselves. It is by His grace alone we can be saved, there is no other. But if we expect him to extend us His grace we must believe and accept Him. And for Him to know we accept Him we must follow his teachings and do what He says. To say we accept him and not listen, is to deny Him. So yes we have to do things - not to earn our right of way, or to atone for our sins ourselves - but to accept his Grace.

That's what I believe.

Agree! And to clarify my point, read below:

The verse below is for the Lost / Non-Christian.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.



But after you get Saved or Converted, you need to change your mind, heart and behavior because if you don't, then verses below address that:

Matthew 7:21-23 - 21

James 2:26 - For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

John 15:6 - If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Joh 5: 28-29 Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgement.

Heb 10: 26-27 For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but [ there is ] a certain fearful expectation of judgment and [ there is ] a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition.

Jas 2: 14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it?

[pbsmind]

John Piper just did a podcast on this from his "Ask Pastor John" series http://www.desiringgod.org/interview...-and-salvation

[uxo2]

Id rather not find out

[mif_slim]

Here is how I see it:

Our body is the temple of God (1 cor. 6:19) so why do we want to prematurely destroy it? If it is to lay down, let it be of natural cause since we are made perishable, but when we rise, we'll be unperishable (1 Cor. 15:42).

As a believer of Jesus Christ, we all have a duty. That duty is to spread the Gospel. (Mat. 28:17-20). How do we that if we cut ourselves short? We cant bare fruit if we are cut off (Matt 7:19). Also, Jesus Christ gave us talents, and those who hide it (in this case, suicide) will only be thrown into the darkness(Matthew 25:14-30) for not being fruitful.

At least that is what I think of when it comes to the subject of Suicide and Heaven.

[kygen]

now, what about if one puts oneself in a situation where one knows one will not survive? i.e. suicide missions, jumping on a grenade

[mif_slim]

now, what about if one puts oneself in a situation where one knows one will not survive? i.e. suicide missions, jumping on a grenade

That ones easy, its not suicide as stated in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

[kygen]

That ones easy, its not suicide as stated in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

[sfpcservice]

Only God can judge the struggles you have gone through against the actions you took during those struggles. It really isn't any persons place to say who is going to heaven or hell, we don't make that call.

[esp1]

if truly accepted Christ as savior and lord then go to heaven suicide or not. . . .yes Christians kill themselves as they are still just as imperfect and sinful as non-Christians.

[Doheny]

Only God can judge the struggles you have gone through against the actions you took during those struggles. It really isn't any persons place to say who is going to heaven or hell, we don't make that call.

I don't think anyone is say who's going and who's not. We're simply opining as per our beliefs.


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[wjc]

According to my grandmother, yes.

It's a mortal sin.