What is the preaching of the cross to the world and to those who are saved?
To the unbelieving world that perishes, the preaching of the cross is foolishness and amounts to nothing. But to those who are saved, it is the power of God, the power that saves and sets them free from the shackles of sin when they believe the gospel.
Les explains that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish, the unbelieving world; it doesn't amount to anything to them. But he points to the little three-lettered word “but” that makes all the difference: to us who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. It takes the power of God to save us and set us free from the shackles of sin, and that power can never be released from God until we believe the gospel that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. Les also cautions against too much use of clichés in Christianity, because not everyone fully understands the whole gospel picture.