Faith

Romans 9:32
Matthew 15:28, Genesis 15:6, Mark 5:34, Mark 10:52, Luke 17:19, Mark 9:24

I found the word "faith" well over 200 times in the New Testament. It wasn't used anywhere close as often in the Old Testament, but several other words (believe, hope, trust) were used in ways that I would certainly describe as having faith in God. Faith heals people, saves people, makes the difference between receiving righteousness from the Lord or not. Faiths inspires individuals to seek out Christ, to live and die as martyrs, to serve others that no one else wants to serve. Faith transforms our lives, our deaths, and our eternities. The pursuit of righteousness without faith is just a way to occupy time. But with faith it transforms the pursuit from a set of rules to a relationship, from an activity to a thirst for a right interaction with the Creator. The Gentiles described by Paul believed first and so were given righteousness. The Jews described sought after righteousness without believing in the One Who could give it to them. And so we learn from them and with faith ask the Lord to grant us the gift of faith so that we might also be given righteousness in Him.