1 Peter 3

As the saints of Peter's day were being persecuted for their "Christian" beliefs, Peter's counsel seems to be just as applicable to the saints of the Savior's restored Church in our day -

"...be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:8 - 12)

In other words, it does not matter what others claim. Just continue in living the gospel and being an example of Christ to others -

"...who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled..." (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:13 - 14)

The counsel is -

"...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:15 - 17)

And Peter's reasoning turns to the example of Christ -

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:18 - 20)

Having not only suffered for sin and death, the Savior went on to preach the gospel to those that had passed on -

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (New Testament | 1 Peter 4:6)

Whether the world agrees are not, avoid -

"...lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries..." (New Testament | 1 Peter 4:3)

"Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you..." (New Testament | 1 Peter 4:4)

In summary -

be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover [or preventeth] the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging." (New Testament | 1 Peter 4:7 - 9)

It does not matter what the world says. Have faith in Christ and keep his commandments for -

"...if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing..." (New Testament | 1 Peter 4:18 - 19)


I feel I need to make a comment to those that extract single verses of scripture to justify their single belief such as -

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (New Testament | Romans 10:9)

Peter also says -

"...even baptism doth also now save us..." (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:21)

It becomes clear that we need to combine all gospel teachings to come to understand what is required to be saved.