Transforming Into The Image Of God Via Faith (Vs. Works)

A crucial thing that distinguishes someone who has genuine faith, from someone who does not, is the recognition that the only way someone can achieve righteousness and every other godly quality, is by having faith correctly. There are many who say that someone is saved and made righteous by faith (consistent with Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 3:28), yet they instruct others to do works of righteousness (such as being kind to others, asserting control of their lives, etc.) directly. This is plain wrong (Galatians 5:4), and is also impossible to do (Romans 7:18, 22-23). Everything has to be done via having faith (Mark 11:22-24). Everything. In other words, a person must depend on the practice of having faith to produce righteousness and every other godly quality he seeks after. There is no other way. That is why Paul wrote the following:

Romans 1

17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Therefore have faith a lot to produce righteousness, intelligence, perceptiveness, increased capacity to accomplish things via faith, etc. That is what a relationship with God is centered around. Ultimately, the only thing that matters to God, is that you do this.