You Can be Closer to God

The title of this little study probably caused a reaction in you. For some, there was an excitement to read on and find out how to be closer to God. For others, there was a desire to change the title to read “You Cannot be Closer to God.” Whatever your reaction, I hope you find some value in the thoughts that follow.

John 14:16–17 (NASB 2020) “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.”

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB 2020) makes this even clearer in saying, “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

2 Peter 3:18 (NASB 2020) urges us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This “knowledge of our Lord” is another pertinent use of close.

When my wife and I were married, we became very close. We spent nearly all our time together. We knew one another intimately. In July, we will have been married for forty-eight years. I can tell you that we are far closer now than we were in earlier years. While our physical proximity has not changed, our knowledge of one another has increased.

This is the way relationships work. Over time we learn more about those with whom we have a relationship. We come to understand their way of communicating, their way of thinking, their preferences, and dislikes. If we are related to someone long enough, we begin to know how they are likely to act and react in many situations. We come to trust them and consequently we let down our guard with them. We become completely at ease and natural around them.

This is exactly what it’s like with our relationship with God.

Jesus lived His earthly life in dependence on God the Father. He spoke about this in John 12:49–50 saying, “I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” (NASB 2020)

Living a life of dependence on God is what it means to live by faith and to live by the Spirit. Living in dependence requires trust in the one upon whom we are depending. Trust comes about by coming to know a person deeply and intimately. This is part of what Peter was driving at in 2 Peter 3:18, which we read earlier. He calls us to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord.

We grow in grace as we come to understand, believe, and internalize the ramifications of the overabundant grace of God more deeply.

We grow in the knowledge of the Lord as we come to know who He is and how He is.

Knowing who God is helps us know His character, trustworthiness, and love.
Knowing how God is helps us know how He thinks, what He desires, and what His goals might be in a given situation.

This sort of growth happens over time and as it does, our trust in Father grows. As our trust in Father grows our relationship with Him deepens.

In this way we can become closer to God. Not positionally closer, but relationally closer.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry

Deuteronomy 12 records some interesting things God told His chosen people.
They may come as a surprise, but they help us see His Heart towards us.

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God says Enjoy Yourself
Deuteronomy 12 records some interesting things God told His chosen people.

Why the Delay?

Why does Father allow the world to continue? It seems that nothing has changed since the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter supplies the answer.

2 Peter 3:8–9
“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (NASB 2020)

Father has not changed. Despite the continued rebellion of many, He still loves them. Before the world existed, He planned to demonstrate His love through His Son Jesus. We read in John 3:16–17 that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” (NASB 2020) In Romans 5:8 we find, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NASB 2020)

Even though Father does not want anyone to perish, He does not bully people. He does not override their willful decision. He does not force anyone to accept His gracious gift. None of that is possible for Him because it would be unloving, and He is love (see 1 John 4:8 & 16).

There will come a day when Jesus returns. In verse ten of our text, Peter provides us some insight into that great day.

2 Peter 3:10
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.” (NASB 2020)

The idea of Jesus coming at any moment used to fill me with fear. I was worried that He would show up right after I had done some terrible thing or thought some terrible thought or had some terrible motive in my heart and that I would be lost. Those fears were completely unfounded.

Paul makes that very clear in 1 Thessalonians 5:1–5, saying, “Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; (NASB 2020)

The Holy Spirit tells us through Paul that we are children of the day and that for this reason we will not be caught off guard when Jesus returns.

So, Father allows the world to continue so that every last perspn who will choose to be reconciled to God has to opportunity to do so.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry

You have something in common with the Priests in the Hebrew tribe of Levi. It is spoken of in Deuteronomy 10 and confirmed in the New Testament.

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Special thanks to E3 with Larry Eiss https://www.youtube.com/@e3larryeiss/videos for the amazing content!

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Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart 3/3

So, God is Love and Love does only good things.

Does that mean that our life is just a bed of roses and we walk through life without trouble? Does it mean we always get the best parking spot, we are always first in line in the grocery store, we have two Cadillacs in the driveway? Does that mean that we and our families never face illness, disability, or conflict? Does that mean that we will not face persecution because we are the Lord’s?

Clearly that is not what we experience.

Jesus Himself said, John 16:33 (AV)
33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We are His children and have been given the role of ambassadors to this dark domain. As such, we are not exempt from the effects of its fallen state. We are not immune to the actions of its governor, the devil.

It has always been clear to me that being in Christ does not mean a life of getting whatever we want, yet Psalm 37:4 (AV) seems to say that we will. It reads, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

I have thought a lot about this passage.

As we delight ourselves in the Lord, as we get to know His loving heart, our desires begin to fall in line with His. So, when His will is done, we get what we truly want.

Philippians 2:13 (AV) points us in this direction saying, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

The Holy Spirit living in and through us changes what we want. This is part of our becoming conformed to the image of Christ. It is the result of our inheritance of His traits when we are born of God.

Romans 8:29 (AV)
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

As we live in Christ and experience oneness with Him our thinking—our desires, the things we want—are gently changed so that we want what He wants. And this is a genuine change and not something concocted out of willpower and grit. It is a real heart shift toward what God desires. In our deepest self, we truly do want what He wants.

As this conformation to His image progresses, fleshly behaviors and attitudes fall away because they lose their charm. This happens because they are seen for what they are—works that lead to death. They are simply not good for us and their appeal is finally lost.

From this change there springs a more relaxed and restful attitude about the future.

When what *may* happen is truly in Father’s hands it can be something of an adventure to see what he has planned.

When the events of life themselves, not just the outcome of those events, are given over to God, the result is a quiet peace even amid chaos.

Please do not think that I have attained my black belt in walking in peace and joy. I am no different from you. I falter and stumble in many ways and my attitudes are sometimes swayed by physical or emotional discomfort.

What I am saying is that the Spirit continually prompts us to look to the Lord in difficult circumstances more often than we used to.

Here is what Paul shared with the Corinthian saints in 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (AV)
16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

This is spiritual growth. The fruit of that is a more relaxed attitude and less emotional turmoil. Perhaps even more surprising is that the aroma of Jesus is noticed by others. In fact, even our suffering can help others. In 2 Corinthians 1:4 (KJV 1900) we are told that Father “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

He is a good Father.
He is always at work for the good of His children.

I want to encourage you that it is safe to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Hold nothing back. He is faithful, He is love. You will not be disappointed.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry

An Overview Study of 1 Corinthians chapter 3

This chapter of Scripture contains some things that some have twisted. Suicide is not the unforgivable sin. I'll cover the entire chapter and show the reason that interpretation is impossible.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018274/episodes/18158728-an-overview-study-of-first-corinthians-chapter-three

Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart 2/3

Jesus told a story about someone like me. A young man who had been given a tremendous inheritance but squandered it because he did not understand its power or purpose.

He was miserable, just like I had been. Let’s look in on the story at the moment change began to happen.

Luke 15:17–24 (AV)
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Father saw His son coming while he was still a long way off.
Father had compassion on His son; even though His son had squandered his dad’s money and lived in a way that did not reflect the family of which he was a part.
Father ran to His son, gave him a big hug and kissed him, stink and all.
Father put the best robe on him, gave him new shoes, and even the family credit card—a signet ring.
Father killed the fattened calf and threw a big party.

There was no condemnation for the son who was in Father’s family. Only open arms and a welcome home!

Abba is love.
1 John 4:8 (AV)
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

All who are in Him have received that Love.
1 John 4:16 (AV)
16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

And what does Love do?

In this translation, Love is translated “charity.” Our ears hear the word charity as an action done for the benefit of another. Gifts or acts of charity. The Greek word here is (agapé) which means Love. Love of the kind that is found only in God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a “4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Where the text says “thinketh no evil”, the Greek is (logizomai) which means, “Account, Consider, Count, Esteem, Impute, Reckon, Reckoning, Think.” Love doesn’t think evil of people. Love keeps no record of wrong.

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth…”

God is Love and this is the way Love behaves. This is a God who can be trusted fully. He is not waiting to punish us, and He is not demanding that we suffer for Him, though that may occur.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry

Deuteronomy 9:1-3 foreshadows the work the Lord Jesus has done on our behalf. The devil better run.

🎥 Credits
Special thanks to E3 with Larry Eiss https://www.youtube.com/@e3larryeiss/videos for the amazing content!

🌐 Official Website Learn more and explore their content at
Visit: https://www.larryeiss.com

Run Devil, Run!!
Deuteronomy 9:1-3 foreshadows the work the Lord Jesus has done on our behalf. The devil better run. #hillbillytheologian #devil #satan #enemy #defeated

Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart 1/3

Proverbs 3:5–6 (AV)
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I have had some bad beliefs over the course of my life.

From an early age I learned to understand that pleasing God meant strict obedience to a lengthy set of rules, commands, and moral virtues. I was given to understand that failure to please Him meant He would withhold blessing and opened the door to His calamity and punishment.

Eight words from Numbers 32:23 were seared in my mind. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Consequently, whenever I did something wrong, I would first grovel before the Lord and plead with Him to allow me to escape the awful consequences of my actions. Then I would promise to behave myself in the future.

This was my view of God’s mercy—that He might possibly forego punishment if I really meant it when I said I was sorry.

I really did mean it, too. Of course, I would soon fail again and prove to myself that I had not really been sorry after all. But this time; this time I would really be sorry, and I would really mean it, and I would really do better.

I trusted that the Lord was holy.
I trusted that the Lord could not abide sin.
I trusted that He was unchanging. At least in the sense of being unbending in His demand for righteousness from me.

Another bad belief I had was that God was likely to make me suffer. That in fact, doing His will was mostly about suffering.

Passages like 1 Peter 4:19 (AV) “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” became Scriptural evidence for this bad theology.

This concept terrified me. Based on my wrong understanding of God I believed that if I truly released everything to Him, He would cause me pain.

In the Church the people who seemed (at least in my mind) to be the most spiritual were those who had endured the most suffering for Christ. People like Corrie Ten Boom who had gone through the holocaust. People like Joni Erickson-Tada who God (in my warped thinking) had to make a quadriplegic in order to for her to become spiritual enough to truly glorify God and have a ministry. It never occurred to me that Jesus had healed many in this very condition when He was here.

One time I heard Helen Rosevere on a tape (that’s what we had before MP3s and CDs) talking about her experience as a missionary in the Congo when militia-fighters broke into her house. She had been violated by several of them and suffered terribly, yet in her message she talked about “my lovely Lord Jesus.” That stuck with me because when I heard it, I was amazed that anyone who had been through so much could feel that way about God.

I wanted to know Him like that.

I had faith that I would “go to heaven when I die”, but I did not really know God. I did not know His heart, and the truth was that I did not trust in His goodness or His Love.

The effect of all this was that I needed to keep everything under my own control because releasing it to him meant that I might have to suffer. I constantly walked around in fear, guilt, and shame, because if I didn’t behave righteously, I would face punishment and more suffering.

But Abba is not like that. Abba is the perfect Father.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry

Take up your Cross & Hate Your Parents 3/3

Now let me speak a little about hating our parents.

The statements in the Gospels about hating parents seem inconsistent with the directive throughout the Bible that we are to Love one another and that we should honor and obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1, Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16).

Two texts that we might find disturbing are these.

Matthew 10:34–39 (KJV 1900)
34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Luke 14:26–27 (KJV 1900)
26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Reading these passages in context, we find Jesus stating that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

This is very curious since He is called the Prince of Peace.

This is very curious because John 3:17 tells us that He was not sent to condemn the world, but to save it.

This is very curious because Ephesians 2:17 (KJV 1900) says He “came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

This is very curious because Isaiah 57:19 says the same thing as Ephesians 2:17.

So, in some places the Bible tells us that Jesus brings peace, yet here He Himself says that He did not come for that reason, but to bring conflict (a sword) instead.

In contemplating these seemingly contradictory Bible passages, we might be reminded of other passages such as Isaiah 8:14–15 (KJV 1900)
14And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, And be snared, and be taken.

Paul speaks of this as well. In Romans 9:30–33 (KJV 1900) he says, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Peter brings this home, saying in 1 Peter 2:1–8 (KJV 1900)
1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Therefore, what these passages in the Gospels are telling us is that believing in Jesus Christ may very well bring division between us and others, even those closest to us. Nevertheless, Christ Jesus is the only hope we have of eternal Life.

Jesus summed it up in the final phrase in the passage from Matthew “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
and in the passage from Luke. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

Unless we are crucified with Christ (see Galatians 2:20)
unless we give up our life (see Romans 6:6)
unless we put our faith in the Lord Jesus

We have no hope of righteousness and the eternal Life it yields.

That often has ramifications because He is a stumbling block for many, and that may include even members of our own family.

Saint, you have already taken up your cross. You followed the Lord Jesus to His death. You were baptized into Him and raised with Him. Now you live in Him and He in you. You do not need to give away everything you have. You do not need to hate your family. You have already done all that. By placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your only hope of righteousness, you have chosen to put all your eggs in His basket. Now His Love is poured all over your heart and you have the great honor and privilege of participating in what He is doing in your little part of the world.

If you have never trusted Him with your Life, call on Him in your heart right now. He is the Source of Life and He wants to express His Love to you and through you.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry

When the Hebrew nation was destined for death in the wilderness, God told Moses to strike the rock and water would flow from it giving them life. What a profound shadow of Christ.

🎥 Credits
Special thanks to E3 with Larry Eiss https://www.youtube.com/@e3larryeiss/videos for the amazing content!

🌐 Official Website Learn more and explore their content at
Visit: https://www.larryeiss.com

The latest episode of the E3 with Larry Eiss podcast just dropped!

This study talks about errors we may believe about God and ourselves, Father's incredible response, and how we can deal with this.

Find out why you can trust Him with ALL your heart.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018274/episodes/18146067-trust-in-the-lord-with-all-your-heart

Take up your Cross & Hate Your Parents 2/3

In John 13:34–35 (AV) we read, “34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

True self-sacrificing Love is not characteristic of humanity before spiritual rebirth. Indeed, the Greek word used for Love here (agapé) makes that clear because God is the only source of that kind of Love.

Matthew’s account of this episode is found in Matthew 16:24–26 (AV). “24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
There is a cross to bear.
There is a cost.
There is an endeavor.

The endeavor is righteousness, acceptance by God, eternal life.

Romans 3:22 (AV) “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:” (Righteousness comes from God)

Romans 3:28 (AV) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Deeds cannot make us righteous, accepted, or justified.)

Ephesians 1:6 (AV) “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Acceptance comes from God)

John 3:16 (AV) “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.” (Eternal life comes from God.)

Righteousness, acceptance, and eternal life all come from God alone.

The cost is impossible for us to pay.
Romans 6:23a (AV) “For the wages of sin is death;” (We cannot afford those wages.)

Galatians 3:10 (AV) “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (We know we cannot keep the Law, so we are doomed.)

Isaiah 64:6 (AV) “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (No matter how hard we try, we just cannot measure up to God’s perfection.)

There is no way we can pay the enormous cost.

The cross to be borne results in our death.

Galatians 2:20a (AV) “I am crucified with Christ:”

Romans 6:3–4 (AV) “3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:”

Galatians 5:24 (AV) “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

We bear the cross once and share in His death.

The result is our having been raised with Him to newness of life.

Galatians 3:13–14 (AV) “13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Galatians 2:20 (AV) “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.

Romans 6:4–9 (AV)
4b …like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

By our sinfulness we were sentenced to death. (see Romans 6:3)
We needed to take up our cross and follow Jesus to Calvary. (see Romans 6:3-4)
We had to be crucified and die with Him. (see Galatians 2:20 and 5:24)
He had to pay the price we owed and could never pay. (see Romans 6:3 and Isaiah 64:6)
Our old self, born only of flesh, had to be reborn by the Spirit of God. (see John 3:4-7)
We had to be reborn as His children, righteous, accepted, and eternally alive. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:6, and John 3:16)

Just as death has no more hold on Jesus, death has no more hold on us. We are in Him and He is in us. We are one spirit with Him. (see 1 Corinthians 6:17) Since He is love, we now love. (see 1 John 4:7 and following) By this, the world (and we ourselves) know that we are His disciples. (see John 13:34-35)

Here is what the Apostle John said about love in 1 John 4:7–17 (AV)
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

As a believer I am sure you have experienced unexpected sensations of love toward others in your heart. These come because the Spirit who lives in you is Love.

Jesus was not laying burdens upon us. He was telling us that we cannot do what is necessary to make ourselves righteous, pure, and holy. We could never hope to make ourselves acceptable to God. Therefore, we could never merit a relationship with Him. We might have the whole world, but we did not have eternal life. We needed to follow Him to Calvary, trusting Him to pay our debt, free us, and give us eternal life.

Grace and peace to you.
Larry