An essential part of the teaching of Jesus was?

Answer 1

Jesus came first of all to the nation of Israel

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

So His teaching was for the back slidden nation of Israel. For example the parables of The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and The Lost Son all refer to the nation of Israel. Jesus' teaching stressed repentance and turning to God. Jesus also forbade His disciples to go anywhere else other than to Israel:

Matthew 10:5,6 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

After Jesus' death and resurrection the situation changed the way was now open for all people, Jew or Gentile, to come to God on the basis of Jesus' death being a suitable sacrifice to appease the righteous wrath of God:

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Basically the teaching is the same repent and turn to God only now a person is made acceptable to God because of the death of Jesus as the Lamb of God.

1John 5:11,12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Answer 2

Probably the best way to answer this is to use Jesus' own command:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength...

... and love your neighbour as you would love yourself."

Within this short sentence encapsulates the essence of being a Christian.

Loving God in Jesus totally and unconditionally, returning that love freely that God unconditionally gives to us. This is done through prayer, worship, commitment, perseverance and so on.

In return for that love, Christians are called to love others too, and to treat them with an all encompassng, compassionate, unconditional love - not just those they like but those they don't like - even their enemies and those who persecute them. Jesus gave his disciples a final command at the Last Supper; 'Love one another; by this love you will be seen to be my disciples if you love one another'. This means that we are called to be open in love to other people, to evangelise, to work for and give to charities, and to lead a life that befits our calling.

Answer 3

Loving everyone, even your enemies and those who persecute and hate you.