"Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested to men; but mercy does not set aside justice. The law reveals the attributes of God's character, and not a jot or tittle of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for man's redemption. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 . DA 762.1"
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
Ellen White directly references 2 Corinthians 5:19 in this passage.
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
Both passages address the concept of God's justice and mercy being reconciled through Christ's sacrifice. Romans 3:25 speaks of propitiation, while the EGW passage emphasizes that mercy doesn't negate justice and that God sacrificed Himself in Christ for redemption.
"The law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God's holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can “be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26 . DA 762.2"
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Ellen White directly references Romans 3:26 in this passage.
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"
Both passages discuss the righteousness of God being available through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:22 speaks of the righteousness of God being by faith, and the EGW passage explains how Christ's perfect character is offered as a gift, fulfilling the law's requirements and imbuing believers with divine attributes.
"God's love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His love. It had been Satan's purpose to divorce mercy from truth and justice. He sought to prove that the righteousness of God's law is an enemy to peace. But Christ shows that in God's plan they are indissolubly joined together; the one cannot exist without the other. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10 . DA 762.3"
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Ellen White directly references Psalms 85:10 in this passage.
"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His."
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Both passages center on the substitutionary nature of God's gift. Ellen White unpacks the mechanism behind John 3:16's promise — Christ bore our condemnation so we receive His righteousness.
"Another deception was now to be brought forward. Satan declared that mercy destroyed justice, that the death of Christ abrogated the Father's law. Had it been possible for the law to be changed or abrogated, then Christ need not have died. But to abrogate the law would be to immortalize transgression, and place the world under Satan's control. It was because the law was changeless, because man could be saved only through obedience to its precepts, that Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Yet the very means by which Christ established the law Satan represented as destroying it. Here will come the last conflict of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. DA 762.5"
"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law."
Both passages address the relationship between law, grace, and salvation. EGW argues that Christ's death doesn't abolish the law but upholds it, while Galatians 3:21 suggests that if a law could provide life, righteousness would come through it. Both imply the necessity of something beyond the law for salvation.