The Gospel of John explains to us that eternal life is the fruition of the commandment of love. When Jesus teaches us the commandment of love what he is expressing is a metaphor, the commandments are imperative, orders, but the love of charity is a grace, a supernatural gift. The commandment of love is not self-love but love projected towards the whole creation of God (Agape), the love perfected by the nature of the good:
"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind". This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself". All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22: 34-40.
The synoptic gospels only mention eternal life, but the apostle John dedicates a special importance to this spiritual gift, in fact the gospel of John is the gospel of eternal life. And this is what makes the Gospel of John so special.
Jesus insistently promises the holy spirit to the disciples, this promise is in fact the promise of eternal life: "And this is what he promised us — eternal life", 1 John 2:25.
According to the Gospels, those who receive eternal life are not those who have simple faith, but those who live and listen to the word of God, because the word is like the yeast that makes the whole dough leavened; the word grows progressively inside the heart of man: "Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.", Luke 11:28.
Eternal life is the same worship of wisdom (God is the wisdom itself) and the blessings that accompany the contemplative life: "This is eternal life that they know you the only true God", John 17:3.
The worship of wisdom is the true goal of spiritual life and one of the most perfect virtues of man (Aristotle): "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.", John 4:24.
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