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Resource from Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry at http://www.carm.org (Joshua highly recommends for reference)
This might seem like a perplexing question, but it does have an answer. Though the Christian who has committed suicide has committed a grave sin, he is still forgiven. But, in order to understand why a Christian who commits sin by suicide is forgiven, we first need to understand what salvation is and what it is based upon.
Salvation is the state of being saved from God's judgment upon the sinner. The only way to be saved is to trust Jesus for the forgiveness of one's sins (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). All who do not trust Jesus alone, by faith (Rom. 5:1; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9) are not forgiven and go to hell when they die (Matt. 25:46; John 3:18). When Jesus forgives someone, He forgives all their sins and gives them eternal life and they shall never perish (John 10:28). He does not give them temporary eternal life -- otherwise, it would not be eternal.
Salvation is not based upon what you do. In other words, you don't have to obey any Law of God in order to become saved. This is because no one is saved by keeping the Law of God (Gal. 2:21; Rom. 3:24-28). But that does not mean that you can go and sin all you want. Rom. 6:1-3 expressly condemns such action. Instead, we are saved for the purpose of purity (1 Thess. 4:7). Our salvation is strictly by God's: "By grace through faith you have been saved…" (Eph. 2:8). Other than acting by faith in trusting and accepting what Jesus did on the cross, you don't do a thing (John 1:12-3) in order to become saved. Since you did not get your salvation by what you did, you cannot lose it by what you do.
What about the unforgivable sin? Is that suicide? No. Suicide is not the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke of the unforgivable sin in Matt. 12:22-32. The context is when the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the devil. Therefore, suicide is not the unforgivable sin.
Is repentance necessary for salvation?
This is a good question and the answer is yes -- and no. Now, before you throw stones, hear me out. Repentance is a necessary result of the saving work of God, not the basis of salvation. If repentance brought salvation, then salvation is by works; or rather, the ceasing of bad works. That isn't how it works. God grants repentance to the Christian (2 Tim. 2:25). The Christian then turns from his sin; that is, he stops sinning. He is able to repent because he is saved, not to get saved.
In 1 John 1:9 it says, "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confession of sin and its natural result of repentance are necessary elements of the Christian's life. But, what about the sins that we do not know we commit? If we do not confess them and do not repent of them, are we still saved? Of course we are! Otherwise, we would be forced to confess and repent of every single sin we ever commit. In effect, we'd be back under the Law, living by a rule of absolute repentance of every detail lest you be damned. This is bondage, not freedom. Jesus said His yoke was light, not hard (Matt. 11:27-30.)
So, repentance is not the cause of salvation, but it is a result of salvation. The believer repents from his sins upon trusting in Christ and thereafter, continues to repent of future sins that the Lord reveals to him.
Back to the suicide issue
Suicide is, in effect, self-murder. The unfortunate thing about it is that the one who commits it cannot repent of it. The damage is permanently done. We can see in the Bible that murderers have been redeemed (Moses, David, etc.), but they had opportunities to confess their sins and repent. With suicide, the person does not. But that does not mean the person is lost. Jesus bore all that person's sins, including suicide. If Jesus bore that person's sins on the cross 2000 years ago, and if suicide was not covered, then the Christian was never saved in the first place and the one sin of suicide is able to undo the entire work of the cross of Christ. This cannot be. Jesus either saves completely or he does not.
Conclusion
Is the Christian forgiven for suicide? Yes. But suicide is not an option. We do not have the right to take our own lives. That belongs to God. God is Sovereign over all of life as He is the Creator of all. He created us in His likeness and bestows life to us thus our life is sacred in Him. Since our life is from God and belong to Him, we ought to take good care of our life and never to take our life away by suicide.
Resource from Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry at http://www.carm.org (Joshua highly recommends)
If by "practicing homosexual" means that a person who is openly approving of homosexuality and is engaged in it, can this person be saved? Yes and no. Yes because any sinner has the potential of becoming saved. On the other hand, if the person is professing to be a Christian yet is unrepentantly practicing homosexuality, then it would appear that he would not be saved as he isn’t genuine in his faith. 1 John 2:4 says, "The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." So, a homosexual can be saved, but once saved, the Spirit of God will move and empower that person to repent of the sin of homosexuality. If a person continues to unrepentantly practice homosexuality, promoting it, etc., then that person would not be demonstrating evidence of regeneration (dead to the old sinful nature and new transformed life in Christ).
But then again, a person could become saved, trapped in homosexuality, be convicted by the Spirit of the sin, all the while seeking to break free from it. So technically, in this last sense, he could be saved but still have homosexual orientation – not as a life style, but as in struggling against the sin which sometimes can get the best of him/her. One who is struggling to get out of sin is totally different from one who blatantly sin without sense of repentance. It would be like a drug addict becoming a Christian and still being hooked on drugs while trying to be healed and free from it. He would struggle against it as he still has the sinful desire to participate in it. Salvation (justification by grace through faith) is immediate yet sanctification takes time as it is a process we all go through with various kinds of struggle.
I would say that a person who has professed Christ and is struggling against sin is demonstrating evidence of regeneration (evidence of new life in Christ by the Holy Spirit). Remember, many people who become Christians still struggle with many of their old sins. Even Paul struggled, "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish," (Rom. 7:19). We are not perfect and we must remember to be gracious to others, especially when they are stuck in an old sin, want to repent of it, and are trying to have victory over it. This is when grace is need, not law. But, of course, we are never to encourage or excuse a person's sin. We must pray for them to attain full victory.
Now, some Christians will state that once you become saved, you should automatically have victory over all your sins. This is an unfortunate burden they place on many Christians because "perfection" becomes the standard for measuring whether or not they are Christians. This can cause people to doubt their salvation. While it is true that we have victory in many areas when we become saved, it is also true that we still struggle with many of our old sins. But of course, it is never okay for us to go ahead and sin (Rom. 6:1-2). We must always struggle for holiness and not take God’s grace for granted as an excuse to justify our sinning. The fact is, like Paul, we sometimes do the things we don't want to do and don't do what we should. It is our struggle against sin that demonstrates that we are regenerate since we are seeking to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
Finally, it is not dead people who struggle for life. Only those who are alive struggle. Likewise, the dead in sin, the unregenerate do not struggle against their sins. Christians do.
Resource by Matt Slick from Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry at http://www.carm.org (Joshua highly recommends)
There are those who like to say that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. Various verses are cited (out of context) and the verses that people use to show that homosexuality is wrong are explained away. The world wants to change God's words and meanings into something more suitable to its sinful desires. Nevertheless, the truth stands: The Bible condemns the act of homosexuality as a sin. Let's look at what it says.
Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."
Lev. 20:13, "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them"
1 Cor. 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Rom. 1:26-28, "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."
Added personal note (in italic) to Matt Slick’s answer (without major edit) by Joshua Yong
Notice that every time homosexuality is mention, it is on the sexual act of homosexuality, not the orientation. But like I said before in my previous post, although having homosexual orientation is not wrong, one must not accept it as “natural” as then one will slowly yet surely proceed on to embrace its sinful lifestyle. One need to face the truth that homosexual orientation is not natural thus needs to seek help before it leads to homosexual behavior.
The act of homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Bible. It goes against the created order of God. God creates man and woman to build a family and the result of families is human community. Thus if the act of homosexuality is allowed, it is against the purpose of God to create human community. As homosexuality defeats the purpose of procreation, family and human community, it has no place in God’s created order for human community. Therefore, how can homosexual behavior and lifestyle be right for human community when procreation is concern?
Originally, He created Adam and then made a woman. This is what God has ordained and it is what is right. Unlike other sins, homosexuality has a severe judgment administered by God Himself. This judgment is simple: They are given over to their passions. That means that their hearts are allowed to be hardened by their sins (Romans 1:18ff). As a result, they can no longer see the error of what they are doing. Without an awareness of their sinfulness, there will be no repentance and trusting in Jesus. Without Jesus, they will have no forgiveness. Without forgiveness, there is no salvation.
What Should Be The Christian's Response to The Homosexuals?
Added personal note (in italic) to Matt Slick’s answer (without major edit) by Joshua Yong
Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that we cannot love them or pray for them. Homosexuality is a sin and like any other sin, it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the cross, repented of, and never done again. The world today reason and justify homosexual lifestyle as a human right of choice but human right only means freedom to do what we ought to do, not freedom to do as we like. Or else everyone can play God and justify every action as “right”…then where are justice, order and truth? Never dilute God’s original design and purpose or we will be lost and have nothing left to stand on, everything will be relative where truth can be created and recreated. Such a world is chaotic and fragmented without order. When the world disobeys God, don’t blame Him for the world’s suffering.
As a Christian, you should pray for the salvation of the homosexual the same you would any other person in sin. The homosexuals are still made in the image of God -- even though they are in grave sin. Therefore, you should show them the same dignity as anyone else you come in contact with. However, this does not mean that you are to approve of their sin. Don't compromise your witness for a socially acceptable opinion that is void of godliness.
What the world accepts does not mean it is right. Homosexuality is more of a psychological “confusion” than biological. Most are not born with it (there is a lack of scientific medical proof that homosexual orientation is solely caused by genetic and hormones) but it is mostly developed through time in an environment that lead one to have homosexual orientation. It is a common trait that homosexuals are from broken homes without the normal support of a family (lack or over influenced by only one gender from father, mother or relatives since young apart from abuse cases) and some tend to be lonely thus seeking love and attention from another. Some are usually hurting and lonely inside until they find “joy” in another person to “fulfill” their homosexual orientation. I shall not comment further and go into details with each scenario on this issue as it needs to be done comprehensively to be fair and whole but this section isn’t about homosexuality but about how Christians should treat them.
In a nutshell, accept the person but reject the sinful lifestyle. Understand and hear them out but it does not mean you need to embrace their ways no matter how reasonable it may sound. Everyone has reasons for their actions but it does not make it acceptable, right? (Some steal to get food but it does not make stealing acceptable, the problem of hunger needs to be solved but stealing isn’t the way, same goes to homosexuality. Having homosexual orientation is not a sin, practicing homosexual lifestyle due to the orientation is. Just like having a hot tempered personality is not a sin, refusing to change and express out the angered temper is a sin. Same goes to homosexuality, it needs to be dealt with and not succumb to it). Get to know them as a person, not as homosexuals and lead them to the Truth with love which sets them free for greater joy, love and peace. It is what they are seeking for anyway. See them as Jesus sees them, not with prejudice, biasness or stereotyping. They are genuine people, not a different species or type of people.
Understand their struggles and help them see their problem (yes, it is a problem) rather than allowing them to live in a confusing lifestyle. Help them face the truth rather than accepting their lifestyle as normal or the “liberal lifestyle of today”… It only brings more hurt than happiness in the long run although homosexuals, like any other persons, experience love and happiness in a relationship. Yet again, it does not justify it as “normal/natural” or right, not only before God, but before the design of our biological body and social order (family and community-these can’t exist if homosexuality is meant to be).
Romans 1:26-27 “26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”
Homosexuals challenge the view of condemnation against homosexuality from this passage by understanding that this passage is not about condemnation of homosexual behavior but rather it only disapproves of sexual behavior that is against a person's basic nature or sexual orientation.
According to their understanding, Paul criticized the people because they were engaged in sexual activity which was unnatural for them, not homosexual behavior. For a person with a heterosexual orientation (men with women and vice versa) , homosexual behavior (men with men or women with women) is "shameful," "unnatural," "indecent," and a "perversion." But for a person with a homosexual orientation, homosexual behavior would be natural for them thus this passage doesn’t apply condemnation to them as they are only involve in sexual relation which was natural to their homosexual orientation.
In simply term, a straight man should not have homosexual behavior while a “gay” or “lesbian” can because it is natural for them. Thus, Paul didn’t condemn homosexual behavior but sexual behavior that is against a person's natural sexual orientation (i.e. homosexual behaviors by people whose orientation is heterosexual).
As C. Ann Shepherd writes: "When the scripture is understood correctly, it seems to imply that it would be unnatural for heterosexuals to live as homosexuals, and for homosexuals to live as heterosexuals.”
BUT we need to understand this passage correctly by clearly understanding without twisting what the word “natural” and “unnatural” was actually referring to as this is where the above mentioned homosexual view is incorrectly based upon.
The Scripture didn’t speak of natural or unnatural sexual orientation but natural and unnatural functions. The homosexual view is based out of context upon how they feel (sexual orientation) but not their behavior in the sexual functions thus it is interpreted incorrectly. This passage in Romans was referring to what they did (behavior in sexual functions), not how they feel (sexual orientation). Thus this passage is indeed condemnation of homosexual behavior as unnatural function and nothing to do with sexual orientation.
Though one may say that “inflamed with lust for one another” was referring to sexual orientation but as we carefully read the passage, the unnatural orientation or desire is a result of one abandoning of the natural sexual functions and not the other way around. Thus one cannot say biblically that they abandon heterosexual functions because of their homosexual orientation.
Therefore, the homosexual challenge of this correct view is false based on inaccurate interpretation and out of biblical context without clear understanding of the Scripture.
My personal stand is against one who practice homosexual behavior, not one with homosexual orientation because it is a sin only when a person succumb to its sinful nature and act against the Bible’s teaching and value, not before or when a person struggles to break free from it. When a person study and understand homosexuality, one would discover the many factors which give birth to the homosexual orientation and at times it isn’t the person’s “fault” but genetics, hormones, environment and other factors. This does not mean God created them with homosexual orientation but it is sin that corrupts God’s original design and creates much sinful desire in human, just like any other human sinful desires which God did not create but was inherited through generations of sinful humans.
Yet I stand firm to also say that one must never make this as an excuse to act out the sin but to overcome it to improve as a person. Just like all of us who may not need to deal with homosexual orientation, but we do deal with other sinful desires such as lust, anger, selfishness, pride, envy, haughtiness and others. We deal with it by overcoming it, not acting it out and satisfactory accepting it as part of our personality. We seek help from others, even self-help to improve as a person so why should one who has homosexual orientation succumb to it and practice this sinful lifestyle which enslaves? When one is in wrong, one need to admit and recognise the wrong before able to change or else, one would be able to find 1001 reasons to justify the wrong as right.
I plead with Christians to show understanding and concern out of love, not prejudice or fear, to help and lead practicing homosexuals to God to set them free, like you would with every other people who are in sin. Remember each one of us is struggling with sin and we need compassion and Truth to set us free. Christians are no different as we too fight against sinful temptations and desires as we are being sanctified every day. This is what it means by new life in Christ where we no longer need to obey sin but able to freely obey Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. Thus let us not add pain to those who are trapped in sin, but extend our loving hand to give hope and truth of freedom in Christ Jesus. But do this also without compromising the truth and faith in God’s Word against homosexual practices.
