Have you committed an unforgivable sin?

In this writing, I reflect on what kind of sins exist and how Church action has brought a sense of sin and fear into people’s faith and daily lives. Sin has been a means for the Church, both Catholic, and Lutheran, to keep people in their grip. Even if the worst excesses have been removed, there will still be intimidation of hell. It is also good to know the history of the main Churches, how people have been intimidated and deceived by going to hell. And not just intimidated; threats have also been implemented, and people have been persecuted, tortured, and burned at stake for believing ‘wrong.’

The word of the Bible is, if not downright contradictory in the things I am now writing about, then at least allows for different interpretations. So, I am not declaring the only truth, but I am expressing my opinion as I understand it from the word of the Bible. In my writing, I emphasize Christ’s principle, “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). This principle of grace is not emphasized nearly as much as the severity of the Last Judgment. How comforting it is to know the principle by which Christ distributes His final judgment to us sinners.

Why do we sin?

Do we believe we will live in the end times? If so, the Bible tells us: 2 Tim 31 “You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, Unholy, 3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors , reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, too!”

In writing these warnings, Paul could not say when the end times would come. However, I could ask a question; does Paul’s description fit today and its people? Secondly, I ask; why are people like that? Paul himself answers: 2 Cor 4:4 “In whom the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine Forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God;” – Who is “the god of this world”? John writes of him in John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.” In Revelation 12:9, John reveals, “The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. They were thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him ..” Satan and his assistants have succeeded in exiting and deceiving almost the entire world. 1 John 5:19 … “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

How is all this possible? It is possible because God gave the whole world to Satan. Therefore, the world is full of sin. There is not a single sinless person. Because of this, God gave his only son to redeem the sin debt of men. People can be forgiven of all their sins, both big and small. People just need to apologize for their sins.

God does not tempt man. Jam 1:13 “When someone is tempted, he should not say, I am being tempted by God, because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. And each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed,” (1:14). “Be Sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet 5: 8).

Therefore, Satan’s desperate attempt is to get all humankind in his power away from the gospel of Christ.

What kind of sins exist?

New Testament sin lists

1 Cor 6: 9 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor Thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Gal 5:19 “Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

What does the Bible’s talk about inheriting the kingdom of God mean? The kingdom of God is coming to earth. This kingdom is the so-called Millennial Kingdom, led by Christ and the saints of the first resurrection. For the dead and the living born-again Christians, it can be entered through the First Resurrection. There are also many ordinary people in the kingdom, even sinners, even full Gentiles. How can that be possible? They are the ones who have kept their lives in the great tribulation of the coming Day of the Lord.

The ‘inheritance’ of the kingdom of God takes place after the last judgment. Those who are accepted and have mercy of Christ will receive eternal life and inherit the earth. The Kingdom of God and the Lord God himself will descend to earth, and the thrones of God and Christ will be in this new world.

Let us return to sins. Sin lists are known to have been made since at least the 3rd century.

1 John 2: 1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you might not sin. Yet if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ, one who is righteous. 2 It is he who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”

So, when we accept Christ as our Savior and repent of our sins, they are all forgiven.

It is difficult for a person, not to sin. The world is full of temptations. Even if a person has come to faith and tried to avoid his old ways, the temptation to commit sin lurks. We have a defender in heaven, Jesus Christ. Christ atoned for the sins of us all, past and future. When we repent of our actions and apologize for them, we can trust that Christ has already reconciled them. In this way, we can, with a good conscience, sink into final rest and rely on the resurrection and favorable final judgment.

The Catholic Church emphasizes the priest’s position and requires that the priest has given remission of sins before a person dies for him to ascend to heaven. A priest has the opportunity to prevent suicide when a person confesses his sins to a priest. A believing Catholic does not dare to commit suicide unless the priest gives him or her absolution – and how could a priest do that if the person is undertaking such a great sin?

1 Joh 5:16: “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray that God would give him life. This applies to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not telling you to pray about that.”

Based on the above verse, a division into two kinds of sins was developed in the Middle Ages:

Forgivable sins

The “less serious” sins (peccatum veniale) are such that the commission of sin does not directly violate the Ten Commandments. It may also be that a person does not know that he is committing a sin or is being forced to do so.

However, if a person believes in God, he sins. Often sins are trivial, which man does not even think of as sins. His relationship with God and Christ is maintained.

Even Lutherans and other Protestants are familiar with the concept of “death sin,” but it is not central. Instead, it is characteristic of them to emphasize that man as a whole is a sinner and is not saved without God’s grace. Every day one must come humbly before God. Mar 7:20, “He said, that which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.”

From within the heart of man, evil thoughts emanate, and with them immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, viciousness, deception, fornication, malice, slander, pride, and defiance. All this evil comes from within and defiles him.”

Death sins (peccatum mortale)

The generally accepted list of death sins includes: pride, envy, anger, laziness, greed, overeating, and lust. Many feelings bothered people in general. The priests received content for their sermons. However, the people understood these death sins as unforgivable, at least not easily. There was a need for indulgences, the merits of the saints, pilgrimages, reparations, or other means.

In this list, sins do not seem to be in the order of priority. However, these sins are not death sins. All of these can be repented of. So, what is meant by mortal sin? For centuries, priests have spoken of these sins as deadly sins, and listeners in the Church understood it so that their access to heaven was at stake.

According to another definition, the sin of death is such that it destroys the human relationship with God; that is, the love of God. It is a grave sin, that is, one that violates any of the Ten Commandments. And then it is the kind of sin a person commits, even knowing it is wrong. And do so voluntarily, yielding to the temptation of sin.

Jacob writes, “2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend one point, they are guilty of all. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now, if you don’t commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” (2:11). Or you’re against the law if you crave your neighbor’s property, even if you don’t steal. It is also wisely said, “No sin is small. No grain of sand is small inside the wristwatch”. Even the slightest sin makes a man guilty and subject to eternal judgment before God. Therefore, it can be said that even the smallest sin is the sin of death. And everyone is a sinner. Thus, the deliverance of sins offered by Christ, the forgiveness of grace, remove the danger of the eternal judgment.

The Reformation removed the idea of deadly sins. It has been said that it by no means alleviated the notion of sin but, on the contrary, sharpened it. God’s law makes all people sinful and thus guilty. Everyone needs forgiveness and the gospel of Christ, who cleanses from sin.

Salvation is not the avoidance of mortal sins, but the forgiveness of all sins for Christ’s sake. There is no way for man to atone for his sins or do anything to remove guilt by his actions. Christ did all this at Calvary.

What is the root cause of sin? John answers this by saying: John 16:9: “.. of sin, because they do not believe in me;”

What, then, could John mean when he spoke of “sin, which is death?” What kind of sin is death?

Unbelief in Christ is the sin of sins, ultimately the only perishing sin because it prevents forgiveness. Hebrews also says: 3:19, “We see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”

“We thus find that disbelief prevented our arrival and Now without faith, it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.” (Heb 11:6).

Thus, “sin that results in death” means a sin that is not covered by Christ’s ransom. A person who commits such a sin is so determined to continue his procedure that he will never change his attitude or actions. Such a sin is also called in the Bible, a sin that is “not forgiven.” Mat 12:31 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.” Luke formulates this verse like this: 12:10 “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

What is the kind of sin that should not have to pray, which is for death?

1 Joh 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I am not telling you to pray about that.”

Based on this verse, a division into two kinds of sins was created in the Middle Ages: forgivable sins and deadly sins. The number of death sins stabilized at seven: pride, envy, anger, laziness, greed, overeating, and lust. Of course, the purpose of such a list was useful. It was used to try to steer people into the Christian way of life, away from the sinful life. The Church came to the rescue; the wiping of sins required indulgencies, praying of saints, pilgrimages, and reparations prescribed by the priest.

However, the biblical teaching on sin is quite different. One can, of course, think that murder is a more severe sin than, for example, lying. Before God, however, sin is always a transgression against God. James writes 2:10, “For Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now, if you don’t commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

“To be saved, one does not have to make amends for one’s sins or do anything to get out of guilt. Everything has already been credited at Calvary.”

And what did John then mean when he spoke of “sin that is death?” What or what kind of sin is death? As early as the apostles’ time, it had become apparent that the churches had infiltrated heretics. They represented heresies forbidding the true humanity of Christ, and the fact that he is the Son of God. According to John, such heresy teachers were on the path to destruction. Such a dangerous sin is a matter of unbelief.

Jesus says in John 16: 9: “The point of sin is that they do not believe in me.” Unbelief in Christ is the sin of sins, ultimately the only perishing sin because it prevents forgiveness. The Epistle to the Hebrews also says, “We see that they were not able to enter [the Kingdom of Heaven] in because of unbelief.” (Heb 3:19) and “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he Rewards those who diligently search for him.” (11: 6).

The Gospel (Mar 16:16) says, “The one who believes and is Baptized will be saved, but the one who doesn’t believe will be Condemned.” – There are many sins of death leading to perdition. That does not mean that these sins cannot be forgiven by repentance. The sin of death, then, does not mean that when one has committed such a sin, one will, of course go to ‘hell.’

According to the Bible, all sin must be repented of. The path of sin leads to perdition unless conversion occurs during this life. “But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Mar 2:10 “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to Forgive Sins. “Then he got to the paralyzed man, 11 I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” – The Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins, it is stated in the above verse. That does not mean forgiveness is limited on the earth. However, it implicitly says that forgiving sins is important. What happens to a person if his sins are not forgiven? The sins will meet him with the final judgment. To avoid this, one must apologize already on earth. From whom? Either from the person to whom the act was directed, or from God or Christ. Is it the case that after death there is no longer a possibility for change? Of course, Christ also has an opportunity for forgiveness in heaven and the Last Judgment.

It shows great love to pray for your neighbors and tell them the truth about sin. “Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.” (Jam 5:19,20).

What exactly is unforgivable sin?

It is not a question of the so-called death sins, of which I have presented the 7-point list above. There are verses in the Bible that explain this:

Mat 12:31 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.” Mar 3:28 “Most assuredly I tell you, all of the children of men’s sins will be forgiven them, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; 29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”

Here is how the Got Question Bible explains it:

Unforgivable sin or “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is mentioned in Mark. 3:22-30 and Matt. 12:22-32. Blasphemy (defamation) can be broadly defined as defiant contempt. This term can be applied to many sins, such as cursing God or deliberately disgracing things related to God. It also includes denying God to something evil or denying the honor or merit that belongs to him justly. However, defamation of the Spirit is a special case of which is told in Matt 31. In it, the Pharisees, seeing the undeniable evidence of Jesus’ miracles under the influence of the Holy Spirit’s power, claimed that he was under the influence of Satan (Matt. 12:24). The Pharisees and other Jewish leaders had repeatedly received a testimony of Jesus’ divine ability to heal those who had been ill for years. They knew that Jesus had said that He would do these miracles by the power of God. Despite everything, the learned Jewish leaders did not believe that God was behind these miracles. They insisted on the God revealed by the Old Testament and could not accept God’s new coming to save the world and the coming of God’s kingdom.

Next, notice how Jesus describes in detail the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that took place in Mar 3:30. Mark 3:29, “but Whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an Eternal sin. 30 For they [pharisees] had been saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

The Pharisees slandered Jesus, claiming that he had an unclean spirit. Who today would dare to claim that Jesus spoke of the influence of demonic spirits?

Got Question continues: “Nowadays, the only unforgivable sin is constant disbelief. There is no forgiveness for a person who dies in disbelief. According to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” – The only situation where someone is unforgivable is that he does not belong to “everyone” who believes in him. “Jesus got to him,” I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “(John 14: 6) – The rejection of the only chance of salvation leads to the condemnation of a person to eternal hell because the rejection of the only forgiveness is unforgivable.

Many fear that they have committed an unforgivable sin that God cannot or will not forgive. They think they have no hope no matter what they do. Satan wants to keep us in such delusions. If a person has such a fear, he just needs to come to God, confess his sins, repent, and accept God’s forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). This verse assures us that God and Christ are ready to forgive if we repent to him. John makes no limitations on the nature of sin. God’s love and compassion are limitless; you can be forgiven of your sins even “until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22)

Unforgivable sin can be defined as a blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. During the New Testament, it came true when Christ was said to have done his miracle with the help of Satan, i.e. that Jesus was in the power of demons. For the Pharisees, if anyone had the best chance of proving that Jesus’ actions were God’s accomplishments. The sin is that the Pharisees certainly knew that this was not the case, but that miracles took place by God’s power. The mockery was, therefore, directed to God and his Holy Spirit.

If you believe you have committed an unforgivable sin, you are probably wrong. At least a situation similar to the one in question when Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for mocking the Holy Spirit does not happen much today. I am not saying that even today one could not blaspheme the Holy Spirit so that the character of the Holy Spirit as the power of God would be so grossly disgraced that one would be found guilty of mocking the Holy Spirit for the purpose of which Jesus spoke, i.e., committing the unforgivable sin.

Is there a sin today that cannot be forgiven?

It has been said that the kind of blasphemy that Christ spoke of two millennia ago cannot happen today. The author of this opinion goes on to say that the only unforgivable sin today is constant disbelief. Still, there is no forgiveness for a person who dies rejecting Christ. In rejecting Christ, he also chooses hell. Heb 11: 6 says: “Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.”

In this writing, I point out that salvation is possible, even for one who has not even heard of our God or Christ. The Bible also promises in Jam 2:13 that “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Therefore, I do not share such judgmental opinions, but leave the decision to the mercy of Christ. John 14: 6 says, “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Romans 5:20 gives hope to even the great sinner: “where sin increased, grace increased even more.”

Paul tells of his own life that although he was raised to believe in God according to the strictest interpretation of the Pharisees, he was still the greatest sinner (1 Tim 1:15). He received grace from Christ because he had done it ignorantly, in unbelief. Was he ignorant and in disbelief? Although he had been taught by the most qualified Jewish teacher of its time: Act 22:3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.”

1 Tim 1:12, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gives me strength, that he has considered me faithful and has appointed me to his service.
13 In the past I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief,
14 The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves complete acceptance. To this world Christ Jesus came, sinful people to save. I am the worst of them.

16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.”

Jam 4:6 “But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble.”
7 “Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Heb 7:25 “Therefore he [Christ] is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.”

Joh 3:36 “One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” – This verse applies to people who have received enough information about Christ as a basis for the decision needed to believe, but do not believe. Maybe they don’t believe in anything. In my view, people who have another faith, such as Islam and practice it devotionally, cannot be expected to change their faith, even if they have heard of Christ. The situation of choice and the set of comparisons must be clear enough to state that they chose another than Christ. https://www.gotquestions.org/unpardonable-sin.html

This organization says “We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.”

Another important aspect of faith; Have you thought about who gives you faith? It is God. For some a lot, for some a little or not at all. Paul writes in Romans 12:3, “For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you.”

Let’s stop to think about what this means. The Bible says that salvation requires faith in God and the atoning sacrifice of Christ. It is brought up many times. I ask God; is it reasonable for you to demand faith if you have not given it to man? Secondly, I ask; why do you give people faith a different amount? Shouldn’t everyone be equipped with the same amount of faith so that they can equally compete for access to your kingdom?

You, my God, are compared in the Bible (Rom 9:21) to a potter who makes vessels from clay for various uses. Some vessels for everyday use, some for a special occasion. This is, of course, a metaphor for people created for different purposes. People for everyday use toil from morning to night in the day’s chores. A person made for special occasions has time to explore life questions and reflect on the meanings of Bible verses. Are they treated equally in the final judgment?

How is salvation determined?

Which decides, faith and grace or the good works done? Protestant churches strongly believe that man is saved only by faith and the grace of Christ. According to the Church, man cannot obtain salvation by doing good works.

Let’s see what the Bible says.

Mat 25:40 “The king [Christ] will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, in that you did it for one of the least important of these my brothers, you did it for me.”

25:45 “Then he will say to them, ‘Truly I tell you, in that you did not do it for one of the least important of these, you did not do it for me. 46 These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

1 Joh 3:17 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? 18 Little children, we must stop loving in word and in tongue, but instead love in action and in truth..”

1 Joh 3:23 “This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.”

Luk 3:11 “He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”

Good works belong to the Christian life. Christ emphasizes that doing a good deed to our neighbor is the same as we would have done it to Christ himself. If we do not take care of our neighbors, we don’t care about Christ either. Christ even makes it a question of salvation. If we do not care for our neighbors, Christ will send us at the final judgment to “eternal punishment.”

The importance of deeds is emphasized by the attitude towards people who do not know Christ in any way and therefore have not even been able to believe in him. They might be Muslims, for example. Or Hindu. Or just atheists. Even in these societies, there has been a powerful way to help the needy and the afflicted. How does Christ treat them at the Last Judgment? In his Romans, Paul says 2:15, “They show that what the law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse them.”

Jam 2:18 “But someone may say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without any works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

How many times can sins be forgiven?

Jesus taught that people should forgive their brothers even “seventy times seven.” Wouldn’t God forgive his creatures as many times? “Seventy times seven” is a figurative expression of unlimited forgiveness. This concerns at least the everyday situations and violations of life, both among people and concerning God.

And then, what to think about “unforgivable sin?” Two thousand years ago, God’s own people were on the wrong track again. Yes, the Jews went to listen to the Synagogue as they read God’s word in scrolls of the Old Testament. However, the Old covenant could not guarantee salvation for the people, and the people died in their sins. Therefore, God allowed his Son to be born into the world to redeem the “lost sheep of Israel” and Abraham’s entire seed.

Fear and related disbelief

Rev 21:8 “But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

This list contains a very mixed collection of sinners who are said to be doomed. What kind of fear could it be? An old cowardly grandma who doesn’t dare even cross the street even though the traffic lights are green? Of course, there can be no question of such timorousness. I interpret the cowardice of the Bible to be the kind of unbelieving fear that Jesus gave as an example when he spoke of a rich man who asked what he should do to have eternal life; Mar 10:21 “Jesus looking at him and loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.” – The rich man did not dare to follow Jesus’ counsel, “he became gloomy at that saying, and went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” (Verse 22) The rich man felt fear and disbelief about what would happen to him if he was left with nothing after he had sold all his possessions.

Another example: Acts 5:1, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession.” – They had promised to make all the purchase price they received available to the apostles and the congregation. However, they kept part of the purchase price a secret, as if for certainty, if all did not go as they hoped. However, Peter saw through them: 5:3, “Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

God’s promises to the newborn children of God

1 Cor 3:16 “Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are..”

What is meant by destroying the temple? Is killing a person in all cases “destroying of the temple?” Someone immediately claims that people are being killed in wars, and it has not been considered destructing according to the letter of Corinthians. What if someone drives a car recklessly and causes the death of a person in another car? Nor is it considered “destruction,” even if people, i.e. temples of God, die. So, what would be the corruption of the temple of God? I would look for the answer to the mental deception of man; enticing a person out of faith could be a suitable corruption for this.

Or, they are offering non-biblical faith as salvation. The boundary of non-biblical faith can, in each person’s opinion, depend on what his or her religious beliefs are. A Catholic looks through Catholic eyeglasses. On the other hand, Jehovah’s Witnesses are convinced that their relatively small religion has found the one and only truth.

Mat 18:6 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.” In verse 18:3, Jesus says: “Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” – What is the faith of children like Jesus recommends to everyone? Children just believe and do not argue about which religion’s doctrine is right and which is wrong. Thus, if simple believers are lured away from the faith they have adopted, there is a danger of corrupting their simple faith and misleading them spiritually. When a person has matured in the things of faith, they can be given the strong food of faith instead of milk (Heb. 5:12-14)

Psa 34:17 “The righteous cry, and Jehovah hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Jehovah is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves those who have a crushed spirit.
20 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But Jehovah delivers him out of them all.”

According to these verses of the Psalm, God hears the righteous and frees them from all their afflictions. The Lord is with those who have a broken heart and mind. The righteous have many sufferings, but God frees such a believer from all of them.

Jer 29:11 “For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you-an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.

12 You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.”

The verses of Psalm and Jeremiah referred to above are weighty and comforting, especially for believers. The believer and newborn should not even sink into such a severe depression that he seeks to escape through suicide. When the born-again child of God cries out to the Father for help, God hears and promises to free His own from all their anxieties. I would venture to argue that those who commit suicide are mainly people who live “according to the way this of this world,” unlike the newborn, who know how to prioritize things.

Pro 3:5 “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”

Isa 41:10 “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”

1 Pet 5:7 “Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you..”

1 Joh 3:15 “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.” – A murderer is one who deprives another person of his life. John equates the murderer and his brother with the hater. Brother, on the other hand, means anyone close to you. The mere incubation of murder in mind can be such hatred of a neighbor.

Joh 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” – Giving one’s life often means conscious sacrifice for the sake of another. For example, rescuing from a fire knowing that you will lose your life. Or in a war, rescuing a comrade-in-arms from the enemy. As John writes in this way, it must be understood that the protection of one’s life is not the most important thing, but the use of one’s life in a God-approved manner. But on the other hand, I may ask, shouldn’t the life given by God always be cherished and not put at risk?

I think of suicide as the restoration of life to its giver. I see no reproach to God in it if it is done genuinely in faith. However, most suicides are, in practice, everything else. Does a suicide person, when doing the act, consider himself winning something? He probably does not think he will win anything, just lose everything. He has already lost everything before the act is done, and the act only seals it. A believer only asks God to understand his deed that he had no other choice. How could God condemn to hell such a believer? God loses nothing, but he gains one believer.

Is human life sacred?

This is commonly said, but is it the case according to the Bible?

Gen 9:5 “And only your blood for your lives do I require; from the hand of every living thing I require it, and from the hand of man, from the hand of every man’s brother I require the life of man.”

– God forbids shedding another person’s blood. It’s murder. God takes revenge on the one who sheds another person’s blood. So, the murder of another person. He who kills himself is not to blame for the murder of another man, which God says he will avenge.

“Life is a gift from God,” Christians often say. Man must not nullify and despise the gift of God by committing murder. At this point, it is further clarified that suicide is also murder. – For my part, I would like to clarify that murder is always against another person. The word “self-murder” derives from the perception of murder and the misinterpretation of faith. According to this misinterpretation, murder can also target the person himself. In general language, murder targets another person.

Suicide, especially from a Catholic point of view

The Catholic concept of suicide is illustrated by the following inscription: This recognition of free human will in performing moral acts has led many Catholics and non-Catholics to assume that the Church teaches that committing suicide automatically condemns a person to hell. After all, didn’t the Church forbid Christian funerals and burial in consecrated ground to those who were determined to have committed this act?

For many centuries the Church taught that those who took their own lives could not be given a Christian funeral or buried in consecrated ground. Nonetheless, in so doing, the Church wasn’t passing judgment on the salvation of the individual soul; instead, the deprivation of Christian funeral rites was a pastoral discipline intended to teach Catholics the gravity of suicide. Although the Church no longer requires that Christian funeral rites be denied to people who commit suicide, the Church does still recognize the objective seriousness of the act:

Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self (CCC 2281).

When a person commits suicide due to psychological impairment, such as that caused by clinical depression, the Church recognizes that he may not have been fully capable of the knowledge and consent necessary to commit a mortal sin.

Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide (CCC 2282).

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/what-does-the-church-teach-about-suicide

For such reasons, less responsibility is explained. However, Catholics still consider suicide a sin. The suicide is hoped to repent of his act at the last minute, and thus the responsibility for the action is reduced. Severe psychological disorders, anxiety, fear, or suffering, reduce suicide’s liability. Members of both Catholic and non-Catholic religions believe that perpetrators of suicide will go to hell. Churches have taught this for many centuries, and one practical consequence has been that the body of the suicide perpetrator has not been allowed to be buried in the churchyard next to others.

God’s Ten Commandments Exo 20:13 says, “You shall not murder,” which means that no one has the right to deprive another person of his life. Many interpret this to include deprivation of one’s own life. Eze 18:4 “Behold, all the souls, are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.” Souls or lives, Hebr. Nephesh: living being (with life in the blood). Those who consider that man has no right to decide his own life appeal to Ezekiel’s above verse, in which God emphatically states, as the giver of life, “All living souls are mine.”

However, all souls end up back to God after death. By no means can a person always influence when and how he dies. War, accident, illness… various factors are many, as a result of which a person dies against his will. What if a person finds that he cannot live as God meant and gave him life when he was created? Can it not be seen that a deeply religious person, for example because of a serious illness, wants to end his life and give it back to his Creator. – So, the soul returns to the God to whom it belongs.

If a suicide is considered to be against God’s will, it is worth remembering the words of Jesus: “Most assuredly I tell you, all of the children of men’s sins will be forgiven them, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; 29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin. 30 For they had been saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mar 3:28-30).

Notice, then, that all sins — small and great — can be forgiven, except for one who blasphemes against the Holy Ghost. How could suicide be an issue like this? Maybe somehow, but in my example, I assumed that a suicide, on the contrary, is a believer and before his act apologizes for all his sins.

For a sin to be a mortal sin, it requires full understanding and voluntariness and intent. The perpetrator must understand the sinful nature of the act and that it is against God’s law.

Even an attempted suicide led to the courtroom a few centuries ago. Even successful suicide could also mean the body being brought to justice. In the 17th century, a man in Southwest Finland hanged himself and died. The deceased, nevertheless, was sued in the district court and was also convicted. To enforce the sentence, the body was transported to the forest where it was burned. Witch trials and inquisitions come to my mind for such judicature.

Rom 8:38 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/suicide clarification of the matter following with the Catholic view

What does the Bible say about suicide?

The general interpretation is that killing oneself intentionally is a sin. And why? Because the sixth commandment says, “You shall not kill.” (Exo 20:13). The English translation is currently, “You shall not murder.” Only the old KJV says, “Thou shalt not kill,” but most use the word murder, even NKJV.

Admittedly, one may say that suicide is murder where there is a murder of another person. My understanding, however, is that murder has always been understood to kill another person. Bible commandment in Exodus 20:13 is therefore not suitable as a guide. Those who directly condemn a person who has committed suicide often ignore or do not even know the reasons that led to the act. Often a person who drifts into such an action has been depressed, perhaps a user of alcohol or drugs, in the grip of a painful illness, etc., of which even those close to him do not always know.

The Old Testament mentions six people who committed suicide:

Abimelech (Judges 9:53)
Saul (1 Sam. 31:4)
Saul’s armor-bearer (1 Sam. 31: 4-6)
Ahithophel (2 Sam. 17:23)
Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)

Five of them were evil, sinful men. Some thought Samson committed suicide (Jud. 16: 26-31), but Samson intended to kill the Philistines and not himself. The Bible equates suicide to murder – that’s what it is, self-murder. Only God can decide when and how a man should die. (Got Quests)

The best known in OT is the suicide of King Saul. 1 Samuel 31: 2-5: 31:4, “Then said Saul to his armor bearer, draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armor- bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore, Saul took his sword, and fell on it.”

The Bible only tells of what happened and does not either reflect on or judge it. If suicide were as serious a transgression against God as the churches have suggested, the Bible would probably have dealt with the matter more thoroughly and found that the perpetrators had committed a transgression against God.

The only New Testament suicide accord is the hanging of Judas Iscariot. Judas repented bitterly of his betrayal and hanged himself. (Mat 27: 3-5) He has been condemned to hell for centuries for his actions. Is there no mercy and forgiveness for him? Why did Judas betray Jesus? He was disappointed that Jesus was not the Messiah and future King of Israel to deliver Israel from the Roman Empire. If the betrayal object had been someone other than Jesus Christ, people would have been more merciful and forgiving. Before the betrayal of Judas, however, at the Passover meal, Jesus said in Matthew 26:24, “The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” The following Bible verse partly explains the act of Judas: Luke 22: 3 “Satan went into Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve.”

Perhaps, in the Last Judgment, Jesus remembers Judas’ repentance and forgives him as he does to others who repent of their sins. Christ, if no one understands how skillfully Satan takes advantage of human shortcomings. Luke 22:3 states explicitly that “Satan went to Judah.” The deception of Judas, then, was not entirely based on Judas’ own thinking.

What does the Bible say about a believer who commits suicide? The Bible teaches that from the moment a person truly comes to faith, his salvation is eternal (John 3:16). According to the Bible, believers can be absolutely sure that they have eternal life (1 John 5:12-13). Nothing can separate a believer from the love of God (Rom 8: 38-39). If “no created thing” will be able to separate a believer from the love of God and even the suicidal believer is “created,” then even suicide cannot separate him from the love of God. Jesus died for all our sins, and if a believer in God committed suicide in a moment of weakness, Jesus has atoned for that sin as well. Many believe that if a newborn man commits suicide, he will not end up in hell because of the suicide, but because he rejected salvation through Christ.

Many Christians believe the Bible means this: Suicide is a grave sin against God. They claim: According to the Bible, suicide is murder, and it is always wrong. One can significantly doubt the authenticity of the faith of a man who claimed to be a Christian but still committed suicide. There are no circumstances that would justify someone, especially a Christian, to end his own day. Christians are called to live their lives for God – the decision about the time of death belongs to God and only to God. The next scripture in 1 Corinthians 3:15, although it does not talk about suicide, is probably a good description of what happens to a suicidal Christian: “If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire ..” – I do not fully agree with the interpretations set out in this paragraph.

Earlier, I expressed the view that murder is always directed at another person. Therefore, suicide is not murder forbidden by the Ten Commandments of God. The description of the first Corinthians of God’s cleansing fire may well be correct even of a suicidal person. A cleansing fire will cleanse a person’s sins if that person has, at least to some extent, built his or her life (“house”) on Christ.

Can suicide be forgiven?

“He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32)

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If the love of Christ is so all-encompassing and lavish, how could he not love the one who is in such great trouble that he decides to end his life. Again, I would like to remind that condemning suicide has been a way for churches to emphasize their own prestige and keep people in their grip. How cruel the Church’s servant has been in telling relatives of a person who has committed suicide that suicide cannot be buried in a blessed churchyard because he is going to hell. Even today, such statements can be heard from the pastor of the Church.

Indeed, some may say that suicide cannot be forgiven if the perpetrator has not repented of his act. It has also been said that we all die in our sins, which we have not even noticed to confess, let alone repent. For Catholics in particular, repentance is essential. A Catholic priest in one of my favorite TV series comforted the relatives of the perpetrator by saying this way: don’t be sad, maybe he repented just at the last minute.

What is the judgment Christ gives?

God has given judgment to His Son.

Joh 5:22 “For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,”

James 2:13 says: “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. – When I first read this verse in my language, I didn’t understand what it meant, especially the rest of the verse was incomprehensible. – When I looked at the English version of it, everything became clear. “Mercy triumphs over judgment” is the basis of Christ’s judgments, which he follows in all his judgments when the resurrection of judgment has taken place.

A believer committed suicide

Suppose the suicide is deeply believing but seriously ill. The disease produces tremendous pain for which no proper medication can be found. What decision will Christ make on him in the Last Judgment? Would it not be plausible that a man’s faith would weigh more in the scales than the suicide he committed? That is what I believe.

2. Suicide perpetrator is not a believer. He seldom even thinks he will go to heaven. When he commits suicide, he also does not regret his actions.

The average person usually has two options for life after death. Even a hesitant

believer, when he dies, hopes to get straight to heaven. Those who have lived a very sinful life may be afraid of going to hell after death if they think of anything about life after death. Both groups are very wrong: no one has entered heaven immediately after death. Nor has anyone gone to hell, at least not yet. It can be said that the work of God and Christ’s salvation has been interrupted after they committed suicide. For them, death is premature, as is that of all who die without even thinking about the things of faith. And if they have had time, have thought in terms of non-Christianity.

The apostles traveled from city to city, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus gave instructions:

Luk 10:10 “ But whenever you go into a town and people don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say,
11 Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.
12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.

Again, we return to the importance of receiving faith. It is summed up in Luke 10:16, “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Everyone remembers the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in a firestorm sent by God to end their lives. Now Jesus says that (verse 12) the future of Sodom is easier than that of cities that do not receive the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Those who hear and understand but do not receive God’s word will have to step down into Hades. They will be raised to judgment after the second Resurrection, when God’s kingdom (the Millennial Kingdom of Christ) has ruled the earth for a thousand years, possibly longer. It says in Rev 20:5, “The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first Resurrection.” – Those who received the word they heard and remained faithful to it for the rest of their lives have an excellent opportunity to partake of the first Resurrection and to reign with Christ in his Millennial Kingdom.

I even consider it possible that a person who committed suicide deeply in faith rule with Christ, and that suicide, because of the grace of Christ, cannot be attributed to him. Many may wonder how I might even think so impudently. It is really about interpreting the Bible; if you have read more of my writings, you will have noticed that I have based my opinions on the word of the Bible. The word of the Bible must, therefore, confirm every doctrine. The more important the doctrine is, the more thoroughly and in more passages, the Bible will affirm it. Not even a Synod of the Church, a pope, nor any assembly can confirm the church’s doctrine, which is not from the Bible. So, I am a supporter of the Sola scriptura- principle.