And I suggest to you that we work to become that new creation. Baptism is our beginning and the work is our process. God could give all that every man needs (see the Garden of Eden) why then do so many have nothing? Why are there poor people in the world despite our efforts to raise them up? Christ said we would always have them... why? Because without the poor, we will never get to exercise charity. Without the lame, we will never get to exercise compassion. This work we do is for Christ's Kingdom, yes... but it is also for us and our own spiritual growth.
Once again, Christ's sacrifice on the Cross is not only sufficient for our salvation... it is so sufficient that it can be replicated in us.
How many good works are enough? How does a person know if they have committed enough good works to become that new creature? Doesn’t working in order to become a new creature directly contradict Ephesians 2:8-9?