85:8 we read,
men who have greatly affected the spiritual history of this world, the men who have brought about great reformations in morals and doctrine, the men whom others have flocked to hear and upon whose words people have hung, have been Bible men in every instance, and in many cases they knew little besides the Bible. I have seen men and women without culture, who have had almost no advantages in school, but who knew their Bibles; and I would rather sit at their feet and learn the wisdom that falls from their lips, than listen to the man who knows much about philosophy and science and theology even, and does not know anything about the Word of God. There is wonderful force in the words of Paul to Timothy, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly (the revised version says "completely") furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Through what? Through the study of the Book. 7. The Word of God has power to give assurance of eternal life. In 1 John 5:13, R.V., we read, "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God." That is, the assurance of eternal life comes through what is "written". Suppose one has not assurance of salvation, what shall we do? Tell him to pray until he gets it? Not at all. Take him to such a passage as John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." Hold him right to that point until he takes God's Word for it, and then is sure that he has everlasting life because he believes on the Son, and because God says that "he that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life." 8. The Word of God has power to bring peace into the heart. In Psalm 85:8 we read, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints." There are many people looking for peace today, longing for peace, praying for peace. But deep peace of heart comes from study of the Word of God. There is, for example, one passage in the Bible which, if we feed upon it daily until it really gets into out hearts and gets hold of us, will banish all anxiety forever. It is Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Nothing can come to us that is not one of the "all things." If we really believe this passage, and it really takes hold upon us, whatever comes, it will not disturb our peace.