Hi MG,
These scripture really seem to speak to your question. Everything in parenthesis is mine.
Col 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled (this is when we are God's chosen and Christ lives in us) with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Col 1:11-12 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you (as one of the few chosen) to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Col 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness (in the world, not knowing the truth) and transferred us to the kingdom (we are in heaven, as we are in Christ) of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Col 1:16-17 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church (we are His temple). He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Christ's death to His flesh showed us that we must also die to the flesh spiritually, then Christ comes to live in us. This is when we obtain the wisdom and understanding of v. 9), that in everything he might be preeminent.
Col 1:19-20 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Col 1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death (as a sin offering), in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Col 1:24-26 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions (that there was still much lacking on Paul's part, before he should be totally conformed to the Saviour in His sufferings, and that his present condition was such as rapidly to fill that up) for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
Col 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Col 1:29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
There is so many aspects of Christ that we have to learn about and unlearn. This has helped me in my own seeking to understand, in answering your question I have gained a little more light on the subject.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat