Your question has many avenues. When you say, " How can we read the same verses and not agree" are you talking about believers or anyone who reads the Bible. I ask that because (1 John 4:6) is dealing with false teachers and doctrine. That false doctrine denied that Jesus was the the Christ or the Son of God in the flesh. ( 1 John 2:22) "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." So this is a division that will always occur as there are always false teachers. And false teachers will never have the Biblical view of the Person of Jesus Christ as both God and Man.
As far as differences between believers, it is only natural for us to differ in some areas. All believers grow in the knowledge of the written Word of God. In that process we at times don't understand or mistake what the Word is saying. The disciples didn't always understand what Jesus was telling them. See (John 21:22-23) "Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"
Thus we can see the importance of the Written Word of God. There is no confusion in it. And it is not confusion for Christians to study and try and learn about God and Christ in the Bible and at times to have different opinions. So, because God gave us the Bible, and didn't give us a complete understanding of all that is in it when we got saved, but instead tells us to study it and dig it out, then I would say you can blame God for these differences.
Stranger
The question should be: who is the believer? I met a man yesterday that went into a rage and openly denied Christ and called the word of God lying crap.(not his words exactly) He admitted he had spent time in prison and had throughly read the Bible and he displayed his true hatred for God and the word outwardly. Many are not that honest about what is going on inwardly. Do you know how many say, "I believe. I invited Jesus into my heart once. I'm good." Do you know how many sit in a pew and know nothing about God other than what their pastor tells them on Sunday. They get their fix and leave "feeling good" for the rest of the week.
Husbands and wives share intimacy. If you ask a wife to tell you some intimate details about her husband; she will not lack for what to say. When you ask a believer to tell you something intimate about The LORD and they go blank(even though they attend church) what does that say?
I agree with Alley. The disciples were confused
before the Holy Ghost. Afterward, He brought into remembrance all things. God revealed mysteries, and showed them His will. If we don't know the will of God...then how do we know God?
I agree with you that it is a process:
Isaiah 28:10-13
[10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: [11] For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
But we can't forget that there is line upon line for those that would not hear:
[13] But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little;
that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
This became apparent. The confusion is the filter through which we read. "Our hearts desire" We either hear only what we desire to hear. Or we hear truth, even if it is abrasive and changes everything we once held dear. We either read through the eye of flesh. Or through the Spirit. An example:
John 10:10 KJV
[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that
they might have it more abundantly.
Life abundantly:
The flesh takes that as a promise of longer life of the flesh. The Spirit reveals solid truth that doesn't fail or disappoint: life abundantly in Christ. There are countless promises to the believer and if they are only perceived as for this time and for the flesh to benifit, then when that doesn't manifest: disappointment and disbelief that what God said is true, follows.
It is more than varied opinions:
2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV
[4] In whom the god(little god) of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
In verse 6 God commanded the light to shine out of darkness.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
We accept: you must eat my flesh and drink my blood, as Spiritual. Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God becomes Spirit to one born of God. The physical is put away. The Old Testament is put away for the New.
"Opinions" come from the physical.
Truth comes from Christ.
I'm sorry for the long post: attempted to respond to all in one post.
