John writes in these verses about the water and blood of Jesus (v. 7). Over the years, there has been a variety of opinions about what John was referring to in mentioning these symbols. Here are the three common views for Bible Scholars:
1. Some say the water and blood represents the two ordinances of the Church. The water baptism of believers, and the sharing of Communion (or The Lord's Table). These are the only two commands given by our Lord Jesus to the Church.
2. Some say the water and blood imagery points to a confirmation of the Lord Jesus' death on the cross. The soldiers at the crucifixion pierced Jesus' side with a spear and blood and water flowed, which was proof he was dead.
3. Some say the water and blood is John confirming Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God at his baptism and at his death on the Cross, which was a specific false teaching being addressed by John throughout his letter.
Of course, each of these views on the surface seem true and make good sense. Really there is nothing wrong with believing the water and blood referred to by John represents the two Ordinances of the Church (as in view 1). However, the context does not support this explanation. To teach about the Ordinances of the Church you need to go to other places in the New Testament, like 1 Corinthians 11. It is clear from the context of John's letter that he is addressing the miracles of Jesus being both God and man. He is confronting the false teachers' explanation that Jesus became God at water baptism and God left him at the Cross. This, of course, represents the third test - you must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God - only in Him does one have eternal life.
Jesus is at the center of the of the gospel story. "He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
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