Romans 11:16-18 NASB95
If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. [17] But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, [18] do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
How to be holy? That is an important question for Christians to have an answer to in light of the fact that the Holy Spirit says in 1 Peter 1:15 every Christian is to be holy in all our behavior. Instead of the question “how to be holy,” the right question is “who to be holy.” If the first piece of dough (Jesus) has leaven in it and you add more dough to that first piece of leavened dough, then the rest of the dough will also become automatically leavened. All the added dough has to do is rest and allow the leaven from the first piece of dough do its work. All that’s required is for the added dough to be in union with the first piece. If the root (Christ) is holy, then the branch that is attached to the root (that is, in union with the root) is also holy. Verse 17 says that we, as the branches of Christ are partakers of the rich root. How rich is that root? Verse 18 reminds us that it is not the branches that support the root, but it is the root that provides life and supports the branches. You and I are called and equipped to walk in holiness in all our behavior because we are one with the One who is holy. We act like the people who manifest a holy life are some kind of rare breed that we write books about, but the truth from God’s perspective is, because of our union with the holy root, or leavened dough, anything other than holiness is abnormal. We’ve allowed the enemy to lie to us about a holy lifestyle as if it is some unreachable quest that is so difficult to attain. The truth is, Jesus has already attained it for us by bringing us into union with His holy life, and all we have to do now is simply let the Lord Jesus who lives within be Himself. According to those verses, if He is holy, so are we because of our union with Him, therefore just be. Remember, Christianity is being, not doing. The doing automatically comes from the being.
Living from Christ; not for Christ