[Forrest]

Originally Posted by Winman

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Personally, I think verse 3 is understood in the context of verses 1 & 2.

1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning [the Lord Jesus Christ], which we have heard [the Lord Jesus Christ], which we have seen with our eyes [the Lord Jesus Christ], which we have looked upon [the Lord Jesus Christ], and our hands have handled [the Lord Jesus Christ], of the Word of life [the Lord Jesus Christ]; (For the life was manifested [the life of the Lord Jesus Christ], and we have seen it [the life of Lord Jesus Christ], and bear witness [of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ], and shew unto you that eternal life [through the Lord Jesus Christ], which was with the Father [the Lord Jesus Christ], and was manifested unto us [the Lord Jesus Christ]; )

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen [the Lord Jesus Christ] and heard [the Lord Jesus Christ] declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

It seems to me that the Apostle John (and the "we," in verses 1-3, probably the other Apostles) had fellowship with the Father and His Son by believing the witness which was declared. Done deal. Finished. In fellowship right now (at his writing) with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ based solely on believing what they saw with their own eyes, heard with their own ears, handled with their own hands, and declared with their own mouth.

Now, he is declaring the Lord Jesus Christ to all who will read his epistle and listen and heed the message. If they believe their witness, two things will happen.

1. They will enter into fellowship with all other believers.
   
2. They will truly have fellowship with the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A person who believes the Gospel, how that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, must confess he is a sinner who has committed sins if he wants to be forgiven of those sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness.

Those who enter into fellowship with the Father and the Son by believing and receiving the witness and declaration are in the light and the blood of Jesus cleanseth them from ALL sin. And those who reject the witness are not in fellowship with other believers or in fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, they are in darkness, and the blood of Jesus Christ does not cleanseth them from all sin.

My threads like yours are explanatory and I think at this point, Brother Winman, we are repeating things we have already said and we all agree that it is vital and a mark of true discipleship for us to hate sin, turn from it, lay it aside, and look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. No one, in my opinion, has displayed a nonchalant, flagrant attitude toward sin.

Here is another twist:

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.