The standard of piety is so low among professed Christians generally that those who wish to follow Christ in sincerity find the work much more laborious and trying than they otherwise would. The influence of worldly professors is injurious to the young. The mass of professed Christians have removed the line of distinction between Christians and the world, and while they profess to be living for Christ, they are living for the world. Their faith has but little restraining influence upon their pleasures; while they profess to be children of the light, they walk in darkness and are children of the night and of darkness. Those who walk in darkness cannot love God and sincerely desire to glorify Him. They are not enlightened to discern the excellence of heavenly things, and therefore cannot truly love them. They profess to be Christians because it is considered honorable, and there is no cross for them to bear. Their motives are often selfish. Some such professors can enter the ballroom and…
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
The EGW passage speaks of those who profess to live for Christ but are living for the world, directly echoing the principle of Matthew 6:24 about not being able to serve two masters (God and mammon).
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
The EGW passage directly addresses the principle of separation from the world and the dangers of being unequally yoked with unbelievers, as described in 2 Corinthians 6:14. The EGW quote speaks of Christians who have blurred the line between themselves and the world, which is a direct violation of the principle of separation.
"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"
EGW directly uses the phrase 'children of light' and 'walk in darkness,' mirroring the language and concept of Ephesians 5:8. This is a clear and intentional connection.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
The EGW passage illustrates the principle of not loving the world, as stated in 1 John 2:15. It describes professed Christians who are living for the world and whose faith has little restraining influence on their pleasures, indicating a love for the world rather than for God.
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
The EGW passage discusses serving the world instead of Christ, which aligns with the principle of Romans 6:16 about being servants to whom we obey. The connection is more than just thematic; it's about the fundamental choice of allegiance.
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Both passages discuss the difficulty of living a truly Christian life due to the influence of those who profess faith but do not live it out sincerely. The EGW passage elaborates on the idea that few truly follow Christ, making the path harder for those who do.