By Hank Hanegraaff
In a society of stressed-out people, suicide is not solely a secular problem. Nor is it relegated to any particular segment of society. Indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages fifteen to twenty-four. As the incidence of suicide continues to rise, I am frequently asked whether suicide is an unforgivable sin.
First, no single act is unforgivable. The unforgivable sin is a continuous, ongoing rejection of forgiveness. Those who refuse forgiveness through Christ will spend eternity separated from His love and grace. Conversely, those who sincerely desire forgiveness can be absolutely certain that God will never spurn them.
Furthermore, while suicide is not an unforgivable sin, those who take the sacred name of Christ upon their lips dare not contemplate it. Our lives belong to God, and He alone has the prerogative to bring them to an end. In the words of the Almighty, “See now that I myself am He! There is no god beside me. I put to death and bring to life, I have wounded and I heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand” (Deuteronomy 32:39).
Finally, suicide is the murder of oneself. As such it is a direct violation of the sixth commandment—“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13; cf. Genesis 9:6). Indeed, suicide is a direct attack on the sovereignty of the very One who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:13).
You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13 NKJV
See further, How Can I be Certain I Haven’t Committed the Unforgivable Sin?
***Note the preceding text is adapted from The Complete Bible Answer Book: Collector’s Edition: Revised and Expanded (2024). To receive for your partnering gift please click here. ***