Jesus does not ask us to work, Jesus asks us to love. Something that we cannot do apart from Him.

He asks that we love Him and our Spiritual Father. That we do this with all of our being. But we cannot do this apart from Him.

He asks that we love our earthly family, no matter if they love us back or not. Our earthly neighbor, no matter if they love us back or not. In fact, we are to love them even if they are now or later become our enemy. We cannot do this without Him.

No wonder Jesus told us to have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love (Revelation 2:4 NASB). For without our love for Him we cannot possess our love from Him — we can do nothing that He calls us to do.

It is our relationship with Him that brings about the change within us that translates into His righteousness imputes within us.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me (John 14:23-24 NASB).

5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NASB).

Jesus does not ask us to work, Jesus asks us to love. Something that we cannot do apart from Him. But something we must do to remain in Him. If you love Him you will know it. For if you love Him you will love others some of whom are unlovable.

The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him (1 John 2:9-10 NASB).