"It suits the policy of Satan that men should retain the forms of religion if but the spirit of vital godliness is lacking. After their rejection of the gospel, the Jews continued zealously to maintain their ancient rites, they rigorously preserved their national exclusiveness, while they themselves could not but admit that the presence of God was no longer manifest among them. The prophecy of Daniel pointed so unmistakably to the time of Messiah's coming, and so directly foretold His death, that they discouraged its study, and finally the rabbis pronounced a curse on all who should attempt a computation of the time. In blindness and impenitence the people of Israel during succeeding centuries have stood, indifferent to the gracious offers of salvation, unmindful of the blessings of the gospel, a solemn and fearful warning of the danger of rejecting light from heaven. GC 378.1"
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
The EGW passage describes the Jews maintaining religious forms while lacking vital godliness after rejecting the gospel. This aligns with the concept in 2 Timothy 3:5 of having a form of godliness but denying its power. The connection is thematic, focusing on the hypocrisy of outward religious observance without inner transformation.
"Wherever the cause exists, the same results will follow. He who deliberately stifles his convictions of duty because it interferes with his inclinations will finally lose the power to distinguish between truth and error. The understanding becomes darkened, the conscience callous, the heart hardened, and the soul is separated from God. Where the message of divine truth is spurned or slighted, there the church will be enshrouded in darkness; faith and love grow cold, and estrangement and dissension enter. Church members center their interests and energies in worldly pursuits, and sinners become hardened in their impenitence. GC 378.2"
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
Both passages describe the consequences of rejecting or ignoring divine truth. Romans 1:28 speaks of God giving people over to a reprobate mind, while the EGW passage describes the darkening of understanding and hardening of the heart. Both highlight the negative spiritual effects of rejecting God's message.