How do Jews, Greeks, and the called respond to Christ crucified?
Paul preached Christ crucified: to Jews it is a stumbling block, to Greeks foolishness, but to those called—the elect, the saved, both Jews and Greeks—Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This response reflects human reasoning versus God's supernatural working through faith.
Les explains that Paul comes to the crucifixion from a different perspective than Peter. Peter preached the crucifixion to show that God had overcome what they had accomplished and could still fulfill His covenant promises, not as a means of salvation. Paul, however, looks at the whole scene and says Christ did it for us, that we might have life eternal. The same crucified Christ is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, but to the called—the elect, the saved, both Jews and Greeks—He is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Les compares this to the Red Sea: it was not Israel or Moses but God's supernatural power that opened it. When we believe the gospel, God works supernaturally and gives us a new divine nature, which makes all the difference. It is by faith, not by doing anything, but by believing.
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.