15背十字架的意思是在我们身上带着基督的死,并且让基督的死不断地在我们身上作工,为要治死我们的己。背十字架也是留在基督的死里。基督的死乃是我们的定命,也是我们的目的。我们若要变化并模成长子基督的形像,就需要留在祂的死里,以祂的死为我们的居所。因此,背十字架的意义就是使我们自己与钉十字架的基督联合,并与祂一同留在祂的死里。我们若不留在基督的死里,就是撇弃祂的十字架;若留在祂的死里,就是背十字架。这就是模成基督的死(真理课程三级卷三,五八至六一页)。
15The meaning of bearing the cross is that we bear about in our body the death of Christ, allowing the death of Christ to work continuously on us for the putting to death of our self. To bear the cross is also to remain in the death of Christ. The death of Christ is our destiny and our goal. If we want to be transformed and conformed to the image of Christ the Firstborn, we need to remain in His death, taking His death as our dwelling place. Hence, the meaning of bearing the cross is to join ourselves to the crucified Christ and remain with Him in His death. If we do not remain in Christ’s death, we are forsaking His cross; if we remain in His death, we are bearing the cross. This is to be conformed to the death of Christ. (Truth Lessons—Level Three, vol. 3, pp. 51-53)