Ezekiel 36 And The Church

Q

Is the prophecy of the dry bones (Ezekiel 36:35-37) specifically about Israel, or does it also pertain to the church? How is this linked if at all??? I really want to know the truth. At this point, I think this is purely a prophecy concerning Israel, but I know too, that a lot of the Old testament mirror the things to come. One other question, How do we choose Christ and the gift of Salvation? Do we choose or does He do all the choosing for us?

A

Taken in context, The prophecy of Ezekiel 36 applies to Israel alone, and the passage clearly says so. Some allegorize it to describe the process of being born again, but in order to use this prophecy in this way, you have to believe that you had no part in choosing your salvation, that God did it all. The problem with this view is that since not everyone gets saved it means that there are some that God has refused to save. That idea is totally against Scripture. (2 Peter 3:9)

John 3:16 clearly tells us that Jesus died so that whoever chose to believe in Him could be saved. Romans 10:13 says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The Doctrine of Election, as the idea that God chooses us is called, comes partly from a misinterpretation of Scriptures meant for Israel, by applying them to the Church.

You asked God for your salvation because at some level you concluded that you needed Him in your life, either to help you through this one or guarantee you a place in the next one. And because you asked, you received. (Matt. 7:7-8) Had you not asked you would not have received.