Defining Self-Control:
Renewing the mind is about transforming the mind to produce obedience in the body. And a crucial part of renewing the mind is attaining self-control. What is self-control? Self-control is the ability to exercise mastery or every inclination, impulse, and emotion of the flesh, bringing every one of them into absolute obedience to the service of God and His work. The state of being self-controlled is defined in Scripture as the salvation of the mind. One Greek word used in the New Testament for self-control or sobriety (1 Timothy 3:2) is "sophron". Sophron is made up of two root words. The first is sozo, meaning salvation; and the second is phren, meaning the mind. Connect the dots, and you end up with the conclusion that self-control is literally the salvation of the mind. A fully self-controlled person is a person who is fully saved from sin in their mind. They think without sin, and therefore they act without sin. A self-controlled person will not think with lust, impatience, laziness, doubt, complaining or griping, unrighteous frustration, rage, or annoyance. They are free from sin in their thinking. Therefore, a completely self-controlled person is a person who has completely renewed and saved their mind. The more self-control that you have, the more you will be able to regulate emotions, prevent sinful thoughts and actions, and resist temptation.