"and eternal on a level with common things, and those professing the truth will be an offense to God and a disgrace to religion. They can never, with their uncultivated ideas, appreciate a pure and holy heaven, and be prepared to join with the worshipers in the heavenly courts above, where all is purity and perfection, where every being has perfect reverence for God and His holiness. 5T 500.1"
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
Both passages emphasize the importance of holiness and purity as prerequisites for seeing God or being prepared for heaven. The EGW passage expands on the idea of uncultivated ideas hindering appreciation for a pure heaven, while Hebrews 12:14 states that without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
"Paul describes the work of God's ambassadors as that by which every man shall be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. Those who embrace the truth of heavenly origin should be refined, ennobled, sanctified through it. It will require much painstaking effort to reach God's standard of true manhood. The irregular stones hewed from the quarry must be chiseled, their rough sides must be polished. This is an age famous for surface work, for easy methods, for boasted holiness aside from the standard of character that God has erected. All short routes, all cutoff tracks, all teaching which fails to exalt the law of God as the standard of religious character, is spurious. Perfection of character is a lifelong work, unattainable by those who are not willing to strive for it in God's appointed way, by slow and toilsome steps. We cannot afford to make any mistake in this matter, but we want day by day to be growing up into Christ, our living Head. 5T 500.2"
"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"
The EGW passage explicitly alludes to Colossians 1:28, referencing the goal of presenting every man perfect in Christ Jesus. It expands on the process and effort required to achieve this perfection, aligning with the apostle Paul's mission.
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
EGW's statement about being presented perfect in Christ Jesus and the need for refinement echoes the concept of striving for perfection and reaching the full stature of Christ as described in Ephesians 4:13. The verse speaks of unity in faith and knowledge leading to a perfect man, reflecting the same theme of spiritual growth and perfection found in the EGW passage.