Biblical Scholar Talks of Responding To Deliverance

Riverside, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2016) – The well-versed Biblical scholar and author Dr. D.A. Carson spoke at California Baptist University on how believers should respond when God delivers them through difficult circumstances.                            

"The only adequate response when God pulls you out the muck is the transformation that comes when God opens our ears so that we hear and obey and want to do His will," said Carson, who spoke as part of the School of Christian Ministries Lecture Series on Jan. 28.

Carson is the president of The Gospel Coalition, a network of churches focused on the theological application of the gospel to accomplish the Great Commission. Carson is also a research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and the author or editor of more than 50 books.

During his talk, Carson focused on Psalm 40, especially the first 10 verses.

Carson said when God rescues David from difficulties, David responds to God with gratitude, a desire to do His will and public proclamations of God's faithfulness.

"How will the next generation of Christians learn how to voice appropriate praise to God unless they see the older generation doing it?" Carson asked. "When it comes to testimony time in the church, there should be a lot of senior saints getting up and saying things, because they're fulfilling a pedagogical function of how it's done." 

Carson added that God does not always take believers out of a trial. Even the Apostle Paul learned to rely on God's grace through his suffering.

"It must be said that sometimes God pulls us out of the swamp, out of the miry bog and sometimes He leaves us there and adds grace," Carson said. "God's more interested in our humility than in our happiness."