We’ve talked about the simplicity of the Gospel and the Kingdom it has established: the decisive, finished work of Christ. We have also talked about the initial, life-altering Metanoia, that foundational change of mind. The victory over sin and death is won, and we have assurance in our King.

But if the great battle is won, why does life still feel like a relentless skirmish? Because salvation is instantaneous, but sanctification is a daily renovation. And the construction zone, the area that needs total gutting and rebuilding, is your mind. You are not re-crucifying Jesus with your struggles. That part is over. But you are constantly dying to yourself, or as Mathew16:24 captures Jesus’ words, we are denying ourselves and taking up a cross daily.

The New Tension: From Hostility to Holy Ground

Before Christ, our minds ran on the default Sarx (flesh/worldly) operating system—self-interest, fear, and pride. Our spirit was dead, and we were exposed. When people talk about “fighting their demons” pre-Christ, they are often describing the terrifying, unhindered influence of the dark ruler of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4) operating on a spirit and mind with no defense. When someone is subject to the way of the world in this current age, they are also subject to the will of its current dark ruler.

But the moment you confessed Jesus as King, the Holy Spirit moved in (1 Corinthians 6:19). Your spirit is new, and the enemy is kicked out of the house. The battle is no longer about ownership; it’s about influence. The Spirit creates an internal sanctuary that prevents complete daimonizomai (possession/total control). While the forces can assault the walls of the believer (harassment and temptation), they cannot occupy the throne room (the redeemed spirit). The enemy, aided by the old habits of the sarx, now pushes his lies and corrosion against the windows of your mind, exploiting the old wiring that is still there.

This is where the heart of constant pursuit of fellowship with the King truly lies.

The Great Renovation: Romans 12:2

This is why Romans 12:2 is not an optional suggestion for super-Christians; it is the core instruction for everyone who has been saved:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

Look at those two action words. Conformed refers to having your external shape pressed into the mold of the world—the world’s anxiety, the world’s priorities, the world’s definition of success. The sarx absolutely loves that mold. But we are called to be transformed metamorphoó, which means a complete, qualitative change of inner essence, an ongoing, continuous process.

And the engine that powers this transformation? The renewal of your mind. The word “Renewal” and also have the meaning “Renovate”. This has the meaning of taking what was there and changing it for the sake of something else; but continuously over and over. This isn’t a quick fix or a one-time prayer. This is the daily, patient, gritty work of tearing out the old, self-serving lies and replacing them with the concrete Truth. It’s the renovation project of a lifetime. You’ve got to take a sledgehammer to the old mental walls of fear and resentment and replace them with the Kingdom’s structure of truth and peace.

The Heart of the Battle: Taking Thoughts Captive

How do you practically carry a sledgehammer into your head every day? By realizing that the fight is won or lost in that split second between a thought arriving and your agreement with it. Paul shows us the way: “We demolish arguments… and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

When the sarx whispers its lies—that feeling of entitlement that turns into an angry thought, or the fear that turns into obsessive worrying—you must engage in an intentional, spiritual act. You have to first Arrest that thought, halting its progress immediately. Then, you must Reject the lie. This isn’t just wishing it away; this is consciously declaring that the thought is an argument against the finished work of Christ and has no authority over you. Finally, you must actively Transform the space by replacing that lie with the absolute truth of Scripture. If the sarx screams, “You are worthless and unloved!” you immediately stop, reject the lie, and declare the truth: “I am God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). This may look like pray or listening to worship music or some other type of Christ focusing method to realign your mind.

This is a deep, emotional, and spiritual commitment because it requires you to trust God’s written word over your strongest, most persuasive feelings. It requires you to stop rehearsing the things that feed your sarx—the judgment, the fear, the envy—and instead, focus your heart and mind on what is “true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely” (Philippians 4:8).

This is the great, often painful, discipline of the Christian life: to align your flawed, human thoughts with the perfect, glorious mind that Christ presented. The victory is certain, but the renovation is daily, and it starts the moment you wake up. So, get up and fight!