The fullness of Christ is not distinctly different from the Spirit’s indwelling. Similarly, we are taught that Christians are baptized into Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26-27). Thus, they are in Him and He is in them, but not is some mystical or physical way. We dwell in him because we are baptized into him, while God dwells in us through our faith in him. He does not dwell in us in some distinct way from the Father and Son dwelling in us. They are saints and saints are in them – in the sense of having their mind or spirit. Paul speaks of having the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16, Phil. 2:5; cf. Rom. 12:2). If we can explain how our own spirit or mind can indwell the body, then we might be able to explain how deity indwells us. If we have the mind of Christ and become conformed to His image, we may attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Nothing in this description expects God’s people to be perfect in the sense of flawless perfection. Matthew 5:48 reads, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (cf. John 17:23, 2 Cor. 7:1). Colossians 1:28 reads, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”When you look further, you understand that it is achieved by loving your enemies, blessing them that curse you, doing good to those who hate you, and praying for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44). In doing so, verse 45 adds, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” The Hebrew writer explains, “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:13-14).
With these gifts and the inspired revelation of truth granted to the apostles, and prophets, God’s people could be equipped as a functioning body dependent on each part to produce a needed element for their health and well-being. They could be assured through the testimony of the Spirit that they were God’s people and that the message from Him is true and trustworthy. These four were all attainable goals that were accomplished as a result of the gifts that Christ gave the called-out. The implication is that once the goals were achieved, and the body is fully functional and complete, the gifts were no longer necessary.