"Now that you have given yourself to Jesus, do not draw back, do not take yourself away from Him, but day by day say, “I am Christ's; I have given myself to Him;” and ask Him to give you His Spirit and keep you by His grace. As it is by giving yourself to God, and believing Him, that you become His child, so you are to live in Him. The apostle says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” Colossians 2:6 . SC 52.1"
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:"
Ellen White directly references Colossians 2:6 in this passage.
"Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot resist evil. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weakness, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at His feet in penitence. It is His glory to encircle us in the arms of His love and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse us from all impurity. SC 52.2"
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Both passages discuss the cleansing from impurity/unrighteousness that follows confession and coming to God.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Both passages emphasize coming to Jesus in a state of need and receiving rest/blessing. The EGW passage expands on the 'heavy laden' aspect by specifying sinfulness and helplessness.
"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 approaching God with confidence to receive grace and help. The EGW passage expands on the idea of coming to God 'just as we are,' which aligns with the principle of receiving grace in our time of need as stated in Hebrews.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
The EGW passage directly reflects the principle of salvation by grace through faith, emphasizing that we receive God's blessing and help through grace, not through our own efforts to prove ourselves worthy. This aligns directly with Ephesians 2:8.
"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Both passages highlight that Jesus welcomes sinners, not the righteous. EGW expands on this by encouraging sinners to come to Jesus as they are.
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
The EGW passage uses the imagery of binding up wounds, which is directly present in Psalm 147:3. The context of healing and restoration is also shared.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Both passages emphasize God's willingness to accept and cleanse sinners. Isaiah 1:18 speaks of sins being made white as snow, while the EGW passage speaks of being cleansed from all impurity. The invitation to 'come' is also a shared element.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Both passages highlight God's love for us even in our sinful state. Romans 5:8 emphasizes that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and the EGW passage emphasizes that Jesus loves us to come to Him just as we are, sinful and helpless.
"But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
Both passages address the idea that those who recognize their need for help (spiritual or physical) are the ones who will seek and receive it. The EGW passage speaks of coming to Jesus with weakness and sinfulness, while Matthew 9:12 states that the sick need a physician.