Foundations of the Faith, Part 1: The Faith Problem Under the Behavior

Everybody talks about having a “strong foundation” in their faith. But Paul actually names what that foundation is made of.

"...not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God." — Hebrews 6:1 (KJV)

That’s two things:

• Repentance From Dead WorksTurning from something.
• Faith Toward GodTrusting Him for something.

Faith is more than believing facts about Him. It means turning from something, and trusting Him for something.

Here’s the part most people skip. Hebrews 3:12 says the real danger isn’t just doing wrong things:

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." — Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)

Unbelief. Not just breaking a rule, but actually not trusting Him.

So a lot of the sin we fight isn’t just bad behavior. It’s a faith problem underneath the behavior. That means the fix isn’t “try harder.” It’s turning back to God, and actually trusting Him in the exact spot you didn’t before.

That’s what this series digs into: one sin at a time, where it comes from, and the faith that replaces it.

Covetousness: The Sin You Don’t Notice

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

Covetousness is wanting what somebody else has, or just wanting more than what you’ve got.

But watch what the writer says right after. He doesn’t just say “stop that.” He gives the reason underneath it: “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

That’s the faith piece. Covetousness isn’t really about the thing you want. It’s about not trusting God’s promise that He’s already with you and already providing. If you actually believed that He’s not going anywhere, and He’s not going to leave you without what you need, you wouldn’t need to grab for more.

So the cure for covetousness isn’t just “want less stuff.” It’s actually believing that promise. Repentance is turning from the wanting. Faith is resting in the promise.

And it’s more than resting in a promise for later. Romans 6:14 says sin shall not have dominion over us. That’s already true, not something we’re still waiting on.

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." — Romans 6:14 (KJV)

So grabbing for more isn’t just missing out on trust. It’s living like the old man that Romans 6:6 says was already crucified with Christ.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." — Romans 6:6 (KJV)

Fear

Most people don’t think of fear as a sin. It just feels like a reaction.

But Paul names it directly:

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

If God didn’t give it, where’s it coming from?

Look at the next verse:

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord... but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." — 2 Timothy 1:8 (KJV)

Paul is talking to Timothy about being afraid to be identified with Christ, and afraid of what it’ll cost. That’s cowardice: backing down because trusting God feels riskier than staying quiet.

So the fear isn’t really about the danger. It’s about not believing God’s power is bigger than whatever you’re scared of. Turning from the fear isn’t enough on its own. You have to actually trust the power He gives instead.

And that power isn’t a future maybe. Romans 6:14 says sin doesn’t have dominion over us anymore. Cowardice was part of the old man, and Christ already broke that grip. So backing down out of fear isn’t just weak. It’s forgetting who you already are in Him.

The Wrath of Man

James doesn’t waste words on this one:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." — James 1:19–20 (KJV)

Wrath doesn’t even accomplish what we think it will. It doesn’t produce righteousness. It just produces more wrath.

So why do we reach for it so fast? Paul answers that:

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." — Romans 12:19 (KJV)

We get angry and want to settle it ourselves because we don’t believe God is actually going to settle it. If you really trusted that He sees it, and He’ll deal with it, you wouldn’t need to grab the wheel.

So wrath isn’t just a temper problem. It’s not trusting God to be just. Turning from the wrath means trusting Him with the outcome instead.

And it’s not only about the future outcome. Romans 6:6 says the old man, the one who grabbed for revenge, was already crucified with Christ. So reaching for wrath isn’t just impatient. It’s acting like someone we’re not anymore.

Pride

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." — James 4:6 (KJV)

Resists. Not just “isn’t pleased with,” but actively pushes back against it.

Why would pride draw that kind of response? Look at what pride actually is underneath. It’s leaning on yourself instead of leaning on Him.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." — James 4:10 (KJV)

So the opposite of pride isn’t just thinking less of yourself. It’s trusting Him to lift you up instead of propping yourself up.

Turning from it means letting go of the self-reliance and actually trusting Him with the outcome. And that’s not just trust for what’s ahead. Romans 6:14 says sin doesn’t rule us anymore. The self-reliant old man was already put to death with Christ. So leaning on yourself isn’t just risky. It’s forgetting the old man’s already gone.

The Faith Under Each Sin

• CovetousnessNot trusting “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Faith rests in the promise.
• FearNot believing God’s power is bigger than what you’re scared of. Faith trusts the power He gives.
• WrathNot trusting God to be just. Faith trusts Him with the outcome.
• PrideLeaning on yourself instead of Him. Faith trusts Him to lift you up.