"The people of God, with various temperaments and organizations, are brought together in church capacity. The truth of God, received into the heart, will do its work of refining, elevating, and sanctifying the life and overcoming the peculiar views and prejudices of each. All should labor to come as near to one another as possible. All who love God and keep His commandments in truth will have influence with unbelievers and will win souls to Christ, to swell the glad songs of triumph and victory before the great white throne. Selfishness will be overcome, and overflowing love for Christ will be manifested in the burden they feel to save souls for whom He died. 3T 435.1"
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
Both passages emphasize unity and overcoming differences within a religious community. Galatians 3:28 speaks to the abolition of social distinctions in Christ, while the EGW passage speaks to overcoming temperaments and prejudices within the church. The shared theme of unity in Christ makes this a valid connection.
"I was shown many families who are not living as Jesus would have them; they have a work to do at home before they can make advancement in the divine life. I was shown the case of Brother B and was pointed back to the time when he first accepted the truth. It then had a transforming influence upon his life. Self was in a measure lost in the interest he felt for the truth. He sought to show his faith by his works, and his personal interests were made secondary. He loved the work of the Lord and cheerfully sought to advance the interest of His cause; the Lord accepted his efforts to serve Him, and the hand of the Lord prospered him. 3T 435.2"
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
The EGW passage illustrates the principle of faith being demonstrated through works, which is the central theme of James 2:18. The example of Brother B shows how his initial faith was expressed through his actions and dedication to the Lord's work, aligning with James' argument that faith without works is dead.
"I was shown that Brother B displeased God and brought great darkness upon himself when he set up his judgment in opposition to that of his brethren in regard to the true way to observe the Sabbath. Brother B's interest was at stake, and he refused to see the correct bearing of the question under consideration. He never would have taken the course he did when he returned from the East, if he had been in the light. I was then carried to another point in his history and saw him journeying. While among unbelievers he did not let his light so shine before men that they by seeing his good works would glorify our Father which is in heaven. He was forgetful of God and of his duty to rightly represent his Saviour in every place and upon all occasions. 3T 435.3"
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
The EGW passage directly alludes to Matthew 5:16, using the phrase "let his light so shine before men that they by seeing his good works would glorify our Father which is in heaven." This is a clear and intentional reference, making it an explicit allusion.