My niece asked this question; she was referring to one of the commandments that say “thou shall not kill”. I have often wondered myself if a person commits suicide, if then there was no forgiveness. I have not come across any scripture(s) that can shed light on this topic. Can you help me understand the topic of suicide and the scripture?
The answer to your question about suicide, is the same answer for all sin. Yes, suicide is murder, it is a sin, and is it is not an option God has given to us.
First see Revelation 21:8 where it says: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Notice that murder and lying are both sins, equally damnable. The only thing that can save any of us from our sins is the Cross of Christ where in I Corinthians 15:1-4 we are told that “Christ died for our sins” and that we are saved if we believe that; if we trust in that payment alone for our salvation.
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
Secondly, once we are saved, since we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and forgiven all our trespasses (according to Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14 and 2:13), then we belong to Him. Our life is not our own. I Corinthians 6:19,20 says: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” So while suicide is forgivable by the Cross, the same Cross declares it’s not an option. Hope this answers you and your niece’s question.