"“Let us not love in word,” the apostle writes, “but in deed and in truth.” The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. AA 551.1"
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
EGW directly quotes 1 John 3:18, making it a clear explicit allusion.
"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:"
EGW uses the phrase 'savor of life unto life,' which is a clear echo of 2 Corinthians 2:15, where believers are described as 'a sweet savour of Christ.' The context in both passages relates to the impact of believers on those around them.
"Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another—this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. AA 551.2"
"We love him, because he first loved us."
EGW directly quotes 1 John 4:19, making it an explicit allusion.
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
EGW's statement about supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another directly reflects the core principle taught by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39. She elaborates on the nature and impact of this love, but the foundational principle is clearly derived from this passage.
John strove to lead the believers to understand the exalted privileges that would come to them through the exercise of the spirit of love. This redeeming power, filling the heart, would control every other motive and raise its possessors above the corrupting influences of the world. And as this love was allowed full sway and became the motive power in the life, their trust and confidence in God and His dealing with them would be complete. They could then come to Him in full confidence of faith, knowing that they would receive from Him everything needful for their present and eternal good. “Herein is our love made perfect,” he wrote, “that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.” “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, ... we know that we have the petitions that we desired of H…
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
The EGW passage directly quotes and expands upon 1 John 4:16 and surrounding verses, discussing the power of love, confidence in God, and the casting out of fear. It's more than a thematic parallel; it's a direct engagement with the text.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Both passages encourage believers to approach God with confidence and boldness. The EGW passage speaks of coming to God in full confidence of faith, while Hebrews 4:16 invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace. The connection is a clear thematic parallel.