What assurance of salvation does 1 John provide?

• A. Fear of judgment
• B. Secret knowledge
• C. Eternal life by believing in Jesus
• D. Merit earned by good works

Answer: (C)

Belief in Jesus provides a knowable, present assurance of salvation. John writes to believers so they may know they have eternal life, tying the gift of eternal life directly to faith in the Son of God: those who believe in Jesus may know they have life. This makes eternal life something received through faith, not something earned by works, nor something secured by fear, nor by secret knowledge. If you have the Son, you have life; apart from Him there is no life. So the assurance comes from trusting in Jesus and receiving His gift of eternal life.