"There are very many who claim to serve God, but who have no experimental knowledge of Him. Their desire to do His will is based upon their own inclination, not upon the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit. Their conduct is not brought into harmony with the law of God. They profess to accept Christ as their Saviour, but they do not believe that He will give them power to overcome their sins. They have not a personal relation with a living Saviour, and their characters reveal defects both hereditary and cultivated. COL 48.1"
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
EGW describes people who claim to serve God but lack a personal, experiential knowledge of Him, and whose actions are not in harmony with God's law. Romans 8:9 states that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ do not belong to Him. The parallel is that both passages address the importance of having the Spirit of God/Christ in order to truly be a follower of God.
"It is one thing to assent in a general way to the agency of the Holy Spirit, and another thing to accept His work as a reprover calling to repentance. Many feel a sense of estrangement from God, a realization of their bondage to self and sin; they make efforts for reform; but they do not crucify self. They do not give themselves entirely into the hands of Christ, seeking for divine power to do His will. They are not willing to be molded after the divine similitude. In a general way they acknowledge their imperfections, but they do not give up their particular sins. With each wrong act the old selfish nature is gaining strength. COL 48.2"
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
EGW speaks of the need to 'crucify self' and give oneself entirely to Christ, seeking divine power to do His will. Galatians 2:20 speaks of being 'crucified with Christ' and Christ living in the believer. The parallel is the concept of dying to self and living in Christ.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Both passages discuss repentance and the role of the Holy Spirit. EGW expands on the practical implications of repentance, echoing the call to repentance in Acts 2:38.
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
EGW describes the feeling of estrangement from God and bondage to sin, and the struggle to overcome these. Romans 7:24 expresses a similar sentiment of being a 'wretched man' and needing deliverance from the 'body of this death.' The connection is thematic, reflecting the struggle with sin and the need for salvation.
"The only hope for these souls is to realize in themselves the truth of Christ's words to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” “Except a man be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:7, 3 , margin. COL 48.3"
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
EGW directly quotes John 3:7 and 3, making this a clear explicit allusion.
"True holiness is wholeness in the service of God. This is the condition of true Christian living. Christ asks for an unreserved consecration, for undivided service. He demands the heart, the mind, the soul, the strength. Self is not to be cherished. He who lives to himself is not a Christian. COL 48.4"
"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."
EGW's statement about loving God with heart, mind, and soul directly reflects the principle outlined in Matthew 22:37.
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
EGW's emphasis on denying self and unreserved consecration aligns with the principle of self-denial presented in Luke 9:23.