Agnostic Suicide

[JED2023]

My friend recently took their life and they were agnostic. He dealt with horrible depression and anxiety his entire life. His sister ended up taking her own life 16 years ago as well as she suffered from it as well.

Is this the one unforgivable sin? And is it a double whammy for him that he was agnostic? I would like to believe that God knew what those two tortured souls went through in their lives here on earth and gave them the clarity they needed in heaven that they couldn't get down here.

And I also know that from what I have read and been told that they may not have been let in the gates of heaven either since they didn't accept God before leaving this earth.

Thank you for any insight or prayers you have on this topic.

 

[greg64]

So sorry to hear this, and prayers for those who remain. Suicide is not an unforgivable sin, and nowhere in the Bible does it say otherwise. And I do believe the suffering of those who take that route is not lost on God.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is called out as an unforgivable sin, but there is debate on what that means and if it even applies today like it did when Jesus was still here. Or if it simply means rejecting salvation.

Sorry to say, though -- dying without accepting the free gift of salvation Jesus provides means being judged on one's own merits and failings, which is a horrible and hopeless position to be in. I would fail that test every time. We all would. Of course, God is the only fit judge and we can't know what may have happened between a person in their final moments and a perfectly just but perfectly loving God.

 

[Amethyst]

Hi, @JED2023 , welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.

I was wondering, who do you personally believe Jesus Christ is?

 

[HeIsEnoughII]

My friend recently took their life and they were agnostic. He dealt with horrible depression and anxiety his entire life. His sister ended up taking her own life 16 years ago as well as she suffered from it as well.

Is this the one unforgivable sin? And is it a double whammy for him that he was agnostic? I would like to believe that God knew what those two tortured souls went through in their lives here on earth and gave them the clarity they needed in heaven that they couldn't get down here.

And I also know that from what I have read and been told that they may not have been let in the gates of heaven either since they didn't accept God before leaving this earth.

Thank you for any insight or prayers you have on this topic.

There is only one sin not covered by Christ, the sin of refusing to be covered by the blood of the lamb.

Most people don't experience the devastation leading to suicide. Not only the circumstances but the unrelenting mental torture many endure. Right or wrong, legitimate reasons or not we can't enter into someone's mind and help them, comfort them. And then they take their own life.

I don't condemn anyone like that, I just wish someone could have broken through for them. Sorry about your loss.

 

[Andy C]

Sorry about the loss of your friend.

The only way for salvation is through belief in Jesus as your Savior. For a believer in Jesus, suicide would not cause a loss of salvation.

 

[Wally]

Praying for you and those affected by this tragedy.

In many cultures including Jewish ones, self-murder is considered unforgivable. That is a norm established by men.

Certainly many Christians had choices and martyrdom was seen as the only option. Is that much different?

It's a heart issue.

Some things are only for God to judge. He alone knows the heart. He alone knows all the facts of the case and decides rightly and justly.


But its His mercy and grace that we rely on. His Word says we are to believe. His Word says He will preserve us. His Word says He will fulfill His promise.
Even when we fail.

That is the only salvation that works for men, for none are righteous. None are without sin. None can earn what is a gift. Men will fail.
So even in our weakness, we can believe in Him. And by His Spirit, persevere.

And those that fail are in two categories: Covered by Grace because they believe,
Or never believed at all.

Only God knows the heart, and even we struggle to know ourselves.

My FiL decided to keep control of his life and ended it with a revolver.
I know family members who said They did everything right before passing away.
My own dad who has passed on, said you just have to be a good person.
My grandfather suffered a stroke and existed for a couple years struggling to remember anything.

Where are they? God alone knows. Even if in the last moments Jesus was on their breath, Christ is able to save completely.

The only real question is: Are YOU holding His hand in faith?

Acts 4:11-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”​

Acts 16:29-31
29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”​

 

[ItIsFinished!]

My friend recently took their life and they were agnostic. He dealt with horrible depression and anxiety his entire life. His sister ended up taking her own life 16 years ago as well as she suffered from it as well.

Is this the one unforgivable sin? And is it a double whammy for him that he was agnostic? I would like to believe that God knew what those two tortured souls went through in their lives here on earth and gave them the clarity they needed in heaven that they couldn't get down here.

And I also know that from what I have read and been told that they may not have been let in the gates of heaven either since they didn't accept God before leaving this earth.

Thank you for any insight or prayers you have on this topic.

My friend, here is what The Word of God states in regards to your question of the unforgivable sin.

Matthew 12:31-32
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be
forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever
speaketh against the Holy Ghost , it shall not be
forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

May the Lord shed His light and peace upon you.

 

[yeshua'sbride]

I was wondering, who do you personally believe Jesus Christ is?

The only real question is: Are YOU holding His hand in faith?

@JED2023 Welcome! This is the most important question you'll ever answer. Please consider wisely.

 

[JED2023]

I have always believed in Jesus Christ. I don't go to church much anymore as the ones I have tried don't touch on the things I want to learn about. It seems like they're more about formality and making sure you are tithing enough to be a member and I don't think I need to be baptized again just to be allowed to be a member.

I say my prayers every night and know that the only way into heaven is through Jesus. I try to do what I think is best, but I am not without sin. Some days I wonder if I do enough but I am not sure if I am fully opened up either.

I have not been in the same mindset of my friend who had depression and anxiety and will never know if that makes it harder to believe or not.

Thank you for all the advice and prayers above.

 

[Baby Yoda]

Sorry about the loss of your friend.

The only way for salvation is through belief in Jesus as your Savior. For a believer in Jesus, suicide would not cause a loss of salvation.

Hello, and sorry for your loss. There is some great info here in this thread.

 

[Wally]

I have always believed in Jesus Christ. I don't go to church much anymore as the ones I have tried don't touch on the things I want to learn about. It seems like they're more about formality and making sure you are tithing enough to be a member and I don't think I need to be baptized again just to be allowed to be a member.

I say my prayers every night and know that the only way into heaven is through Jesus. I try to do what I think is best, but I am not without sin. Some days I wonder if I do enough but I am not sure if I am fully opened up either.

I have not been in the same mindset of my friend who had depression and anxiety and will never know if that makes it harder to believe or not.

Thank you for all the advice and prayers above.

You sound much like the rest of us working our our sanctification daily.

Pray, persevere, and encourage the rest of us. It's never easy alone, but certainly we need to seek the best of fellowship wherever it may be.

 

[Umbrella Girl]

My friend recently took their life and they were agnostic. He dealt with horrible depression and anxiety his entire life. His sister ended up taking her own life 16 years ago as well as she suffered from it as well.

Is this the one unforgivable sin? And is it a double whammy for him that he was agnostic? I would like to believe that God knew what those two tortured souls went through in their lives here on earth and gave them the clarity they needed in heaven that they couldn't get down here.

And I also know that from what I have read and been told that they may not have been let in the gates of heaven either since they didn't accept God before leaving this earth.

Thank you for any insight or prayers you have on this topic.

Hi JED, welcome to the group! I’m sorry for the loss of your friend…

I’m going to say something that I say often…

Nobody knows what might actually take place between God and an unsaved person who did not know Jesus. In the final moments before they passed, God could have ministered to them in visions, giving them one final chance to turn to Him and be saved. I believe this could be possible because His Word says that He is unwilling that ANY should perish…

I choose to hold onto that last ray of hope…

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

@JED2023 Don't give up on finding a church. Some denominations are by their theology more legalistic or judgemental than others, some demand tithing while others simply say to give what you can or are led by The Holy Ghost to give, some have more formal or less formal worship services, etc. It's very helpful to view services and read websites of candidate churches before visiting. Especially in the last few years, more churches have services you can stream (live or later) online so you know what to expect (rememer that special services like Christmas, Maundy Thursday, Resurrection Sunday, etc. . No church on Earth is perfect. You'll have to decide what's most important to you both practice and theology-wise when searching for and selecting a church. As an example, I much prefer a very formal service with traditional liturgy and music, but the churches in the denomination with the theology closest to my beliefs only has informal services, most of which have modern music. The worship practices of those churches causes me a lot of distress and distraction, so I attend a church of another denomination with virtually identical beliefs except for eschatology. I am far more comfortable with the worship service, can focus on worshipping and listening to God, and am well fed with The Word, weekly Holy Communion, etc.


I hope the following helps in your walk.


2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 2-25, KJV


16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18, KJV


4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:4-9, KJV


Jesus Christ died to pay for ALL of the sins of the world, past, present, and future. It is enough for ALL sins and ALL people. The only thing we must do is accept the free gift of salvation that Jesus purchased for us by His atoning death. There is nothing we can do to "help." To say we must or even can do anything to help, denies the fully atoning death of Jesus Christ and steals some of the glory that belongs to Jesus Christ alone. Think of it as Jesus paying our bail money before we even get to Hell (eternal jail), so we don't even have to go there, even for an instant. All we have to do is accept it.


The Five Solas from the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s sum it up very well:

Sola scriptura (only Scripture) - what one must do to obtain salvation is only what is in the Bible, and nothing else that man invents is required or even possible
Sola fide (only faith) - one only obtains salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, no works on our part
Sola gratia (only by grace) - only by God's grace do we obtain salvation, no merit on our part
Solus Christus (only by Christ) - Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, and His atoning death paid our debt IN FULL for ALL of our sins, past, present, and future
Soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory) - God alone deserves the glory for our salvation


1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:1-6, KJV


Finally, the Apostle's Creed sums up the core beliefs of ALL real Christians (there are slightly different versions with updated language, but no changed meaning):

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell;
The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.


JESUS!!!