Who are 'them that perish' in the preaching of the cross?
'Them that perish' are those who reject, ridicule, and scorn the preaching of the cross, treating it as foolishness. They do not believe it. By contrast, those who are saved and have believed receive that same preaching as the power of God.
Les explains that the preaching of the cross is to them that perish—those who simply reject it, ridicule it, and scorn it, because it is foolishness to them. They ask what something that took place 2,000 years ago has to do with them today. But Les emphasizes it has everything to do with us today, because it was the eternal God who was on that cross. To those who are saved and have believed, that preaching becomes the power of God. Just as God opened the Red Sea by His power, He also exercises His power in resurrecting Christ from the dead and bringing believers out of deadness in sin and slavery to it. Verse 24 says that unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.