Does A Person Who Commits Suicide Go To Heaven?

Honestly, it depends. Did the person trust in Christ alone as his only way to heaven? The Bible tells us that eternal life is not something we can earn by performing good deeds, receive by being baptized, or deserve by attending church services. Instead, we have to come to God, admitting that we are sinners who deserve to be separated from Him forever. On a cross two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ as the perfect of God paid for our sins by dying as our substitute. On the third day, He rose again. When we come to God as sinners and trust Christ as our only way to heaven, God gives us the completely free gift of eternal life: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If a person has sincerely trusted Christ, not even suicide can take away his salvation. The reason is threefold. First, salvation is not a matter of us holding God, but instead God holding us. In order to lose our salvation, we would have to be greater than God Himself. John 10:28 assures us, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Secondly, suicide does not cause us to lose our salvation because God said so. In Romans 8:38-39, God lists ten of the most powerful entities that a believer could face: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Included under “death,” even suicide could not separate us from the love of God.

Lastly, God does not undo what He has already done. John 5:24 promises, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” Note the words, “has everlasting life,” “shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” Eternal life is not something we possess when die. It is something we have the moment we trust Christ. God does not undo what He has already done.

Does suicide cost a believer? Most certainly. Not in terms of salvation, but in terms of rewards in heaven. Revelation 22:12 says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” A life cut short is less time to live for Christ on earth and thus less time to build rewards in heaven.

So please understand that those who trust in Christ yet commit sucide, although recipients of eternal life, will grieve when they see Him face to face. They will realize that for unnecessary reasons, in disobedience to God, they have cut short a life that He wanted to use for His glory. Though suicide is sin, taking a physical life, it cannot take away a person’s eternal salvation.