Faith is a great topic to consider if we desire to live a life pleasing to God with expectation of facing death once and then spend eternity in heaven.  It is appointed unto man but once to die and then comes judgement. (Hebrews 9:27) Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  Those who are victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.  (Revelations 2:11)
     Everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23b) Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
     There are what I see as five stages of faith.  We will use an acronym of FAITH to help us to remember each of them.
F = Free faiththat is saving faith.  This is a gift of faith or the measure of faith Romans 3 says God has given to all men.  This gift of faith is the initiative of God to chose us and grant us repentance to acknowledge our need of being forgiving and receive the free salvation gift purchased for us all by Jesus dying on the cross.  He paid the price of death deserved for our sins and was our substitute sacrifice.
A = Armor of faith.  Above all take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  (Ephesians 2:16)  Salvation is precious and needs be protected from the deceiver.
I = Initiative of faith.  The daily action of choosing God and willingly submitting to a walk of obedience to be doers of His word.  This daily walk of faith will increase by the hearing of the word of God and grow into great faith like demonstrated by the Centurion in Matthew 8 who believed for healing for his servant at just the spoken words of Jesus.
T = Tested faith. Our faith is more precious than gold and will be tested and refined by fire so when the trials of life do come our faith will remain strong.  The reward of trusting Him will be the salvation of our souls.  (I Peter 1:8-9)   Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail and He now interceds for us all that our faith will remain strong.  Tested faith will be necessary to keep us from falling away in the days of persecution prophesied to come in these last days.
H = Honored or home free faith.  This faith is spoken of as those who overcome in Revelation and all will receive special promises from God.   If we finish well we can say with Paul; I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will award to me on that day.  (II Timothy 4:7-8)
     So the mustard size seed of faith given by God needs to ever increasingly grow to such great faith that empower us to face trials of life and even the persecutions to come to degree we will trust God like Job even though we die.