Quintessence

Quintessence
Quintessence is to quote Webster dictionary: “the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.”
To my mind love is the quintessence of Christianity.
Jesus said:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”
          Matthew 5:44
In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said:
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”
The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Corinthians gave what to my mind is the best definition of love ever written.
 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
                   1Corinthians 13:4-8b
The verses quoted above say it all.  God set an example, He loved the world so much he sent His one and only Son to die for us.
The Bible make it clear that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world.
John 3:17 states:
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
God loved the world so much He sent Christ to us. He has no desire to see anyone perish. That’s why He sent His son. That’s why He told us to love our enemies.
If we truly love God we will show that love in all we do, to all we know.
The apostle Paul wrote this in Romans 12:9-21:
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the LORD, rejoicing in hope,
 patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. 
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things,  but associate with the humble. 
 Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give no place to wrath, for it is written:
 “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the LORD. Therefore“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This is what it is to act like a Christian.
We have no record of Jesus ever speaking out against the secular, civil Roman authority.
He, a Jew, spoke against the wrongs being preached in the name of God by the Pharisees.
When He spoke He spoke to correct those who would pervert the Word of God. Those who would put up roadblocks to people coming into a personal relationship with God.
Jesus exhibited love.  He even prayed and asked forgiveness for those who crucified him.
If we are truly Christian, we need to do this also.
Our love should not be conditional on who a person is. It should not be conditional on the lifestyle of a person or upon them changing their lifestyle. That is between them and God.
Jesus in Matthew 7:1 warns us not to judge. We don’t have the whole story and we cannot see into a person’s mind and soul. Only God can do that.
A persons relationship with God is between them and God.
The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts a person of sin.
It is He who truly knows the heart and when it is the right time to reveal to a person the changes they need to make in their lifestyle.
The Christians responsibility is to present God’s Love. To show anyone who will listen the way to heaven.