"The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,—just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,—perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized. SC 62.1"
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Both passages discuss the concept of perfection. Matthew 5:48 calls for believers to be perfect, while the EGW passage states that perfect obedience and righteousness are the condition for eternal life. The EGW passage amplifies the idea of striving for perfection as a requirement for salvation.
"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
The EGW passage directly relates the condition of eternal life to obedience, mirroring the command in Genesis and the consequence of disobedience. It's more than a thematic parallel; it's a direct principle derived from the Genesis account.
"It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. SC 62.2"
"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
EGW's statement about Adam's disobedience leading to sinfulness and Christ's obedience leading to righteousness directly reflects the core principle articulated in Romans 5:19. The connection is strong and central to the passage.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
EGW's statement that we cannot make ourselves righteous and have no righteousness of our own directly reflects the principle in Romans 3:10, which states that 'There is none righteous, no, not one.' This is a foundational principle upon which the need for Christ's righteousness is based.
"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. EGW elaborates on this by explaining how Christ's righteousness is imputed to us.
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
EGW's explanation of Christ taking our sins and giving us His righteousness mirrors the concept in 2 Corinthians 5:21, where Christ was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This is a direct reflection of the biblical principle.
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
Both passages discuss the inability of the law to make us righteous due to our sinful nature and how God sent his son to overcome this. EGW expands on this by explaining how Christ's righteousness is imputed to us.
"More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. So you may say, “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.” Galatians 2:20 . So Jesus said to His disciples, “It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Matthew 10:20 . Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works —works of righteousness, obedience. SC 62.3"
"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."
Ellen White directly references Galatians 2:20 in this passage.
"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
Ellen White directly references Matthew 10:20 in this passage.