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Definition and Importance: Being nice, in a biblical context, refers to exhibiting kindness, gentleness, and a considerate nature towards others. It is an expression of love and compassion, reflecting the character of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Bible emphasizes the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, as it is a manifestation of the love that believers are called to demonstrate.

Biblical Foundations: The concept of being nice is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, where kindness and love are central themes. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "chesed" often translated as "lovingkindness" or "mercy," underscores the importance of a benevolent and compassionate attitude. In the New Testament, the Greek word "chrēstotēs" is used to describe kindness, a fruit of the Spirit.

Key Scriptures:

1.Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." This verse highlights the call for believers to be kind and forgiving, mirroring the forgiveness they have received through Christ.

2.Colossians 3:12: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Here, kindness is listed among the virtues that Christians are encouraged to embody, reflecting their identity as God's chosen people.

3.Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Kindness is identified as a fruit of the Spirit, indicating that it is a natural outcome of a life led by the Holy Spirit.

4.Proverbs 11:17: "A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself." This proverb suggests that kindness not only benefits others but also brings blessings to the one who practices it.

5.Luke 6:35: "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Jesus teaches that kindness should extend even to one's enemies, reflecting the character of God who is kind to all.

Theological Significance: Being nice is not merely a social nicety but a theological imperative. It is an expression of the love of God, who is described as kind and merciful. Believers are called to imitate God's character, and being nice is a tangible way to demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel in one's life.

Practical Application: Christians are encouraged to practice kindness in their daily interactions, whether in family, community, or workplace settings. This involves active listening, offering help, speaking gently, and showing empathy. By doing so, they bear witness to the love of Christ and create opportunities for the Gospel to be shared.

Challenges and Misunderstandings: While being nice is a biblical virtue, it is important to distinguish it from mere people-pleasing or avoiding conflict at all costs. True kindness sometimes involves speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and standing firm in one's convictions while maintaining a gentle and respectful demeanor.

Conclusion: The Bible presents being nice as an essential aspect of Christian living, rooted in the character of God and the teachings of Jesus. It is a reflection of the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, calling them to love and serve others with a heart of compassion and kindness.

Topical Bible Verses

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 4:32
And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Topicalbible.org

Library

The Faith of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Fathers Assembled at...
... The Faith of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Fathers assembled atNice in Bithynia
shall not be set... I, however, have followed the other asbeing the more usual....

The Holy Creed which the 150 Holy Fathers Set Forth, which is...
... 150 Holy Fathers Set Forth, Which is Consonant with the Holy and Great Synod of
Nice .... Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made,being of one...

Excursus on the Council of Frankfort, AD 794.
... devoted its attention to a consideration of the question of the veneration due to
images and of the claims of the Second Council ofNice tobeing an Ecumenical...

Excursus on the Words Pistin Heperan
... How far this interpretation was frombeing that of the Council of Chalcedon is... Council,
the Second of Constantinople, received both the creeds ofNice and that...

Excursus on the Number of the Nicene Canons.
... Patriarch, John, and which contains not only seventy, but eighty canons attributed
to the council ofNice.... His argument for the timebeing carried the day....

The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council of...
... The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council ofNice.... the honour,
however, of the metropolitan church of C??sareabeing preserved intact, to...

The Bishops are not to Go Beyond their Dioceses to Churches Lying...
... and let the bishops of the East manage the East alone, the privileges of the Church
in Antioch, which are mentioned in the canons ofNice,being preserved; and...

Proposition iii: the one IndependentBeing must be Necessarily...
... For since an atheist cannot be supposed to believe thenice and subtile (and... it to
prove equally against the possibility of any thing'sbeing eternal; and...

Elegance and Grace
... There is another fault, that ofbeing over-nice, which is caused by extreme anxiety
to be exact, but which is as far distant from exactness as superstition is...

Excursus on the Word Homousios.
... frequently used before the Council ofNice, a very happy history. It was probably
rejected by the Council of Antioch, [54] and was suspected ofbeing open to a...