God chooses to save those who believe through the preaching of the cross.
First Corinthians 1:21 says that since the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Les Feldick teaches that this preaching becomes the power of God when a person believes the gospel — that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Human wisdom and good works cannot save.
1 Corinthians 1:21 — This verse directly states that God saves through the foolishness of preaching those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This verse defines the cross as the power of God to those being saved.
First Corinthians 1:18 declares that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved it is the power of God. Verse 21 explains God's chosen method: since the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Verses 22–24 contrast how Jews seek signs and Greeks seek wisdom, while Paul preaches Christ crucified — to some a stumblingblock, to others foolishness, but to those who are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God does not depend on human philosophy, intellectual achievement, or earned degrees. He points out that the world's own wisdom never brings anyone to God; instead, God has made the wisdom of this world foolish. Salvation, Les says, is an exercise of the sovereign power of Almighty God — it cannot be worked for or merited. The power of God is released through believing the gospel message of Christ's death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection. Les also warns that repeating religious clichés without understanding the cross gives people a false security, and he marvels that it takes greater amounts of God's power to save a sinner than it did to create the universe.
To those who perish, the preaching of the cross seems foolish because it centers on someone who lived and died 2,000 years ago. People ask what that has to do with us today. But to those who are saved, that same preaching is the power of God.
The world by wisdom did not know God; God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Les explains that man only has physical strength, while salvation of the spiritual requires the very power of God. Good works never save anybody.
Les teaches that the power of God is released when a person believes the gospel — that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. That belief opens the way for God to save a sinner.
Human Wisdom Fails from Babel Onward
Les traces how human philosophy and higher thinking led people to become fools in God's eyes, showing why the world cannot know God through its own wisdom.
The Cross: Foolishness to the World, Power to Us
Les teaches that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing but the power of God to those who are saved, and that this power is released when we believe the gospel.
False Security Without the Cross
Les warns that taking Christ into your heart without understanding the cross is empty, and that God destroys the wisdom of the wise because the world by wisdom did not know God.
Salvation Is God's Sovereign Power
Jesus paid the sin debt and opened salvation to all who believe; salvation cannot be worked for because it is the sovereign power of God.
Greater Power Than Creation
Les says it takes greater amounts of God's power to save a sinner than to create the universe, and that power comes into action through believing the gospel.
The Power of God in the Preaching
Les stresses that although people cannot comprehend how an event 2,000 years ago affects us, to believers that preaching is the power of God.
The Eternal God on the Cross
The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who reject it, but to those who believe it becomes the power of God because it was the eternal God on the cross.
Nothing but the Cross Saves
The cross is the simplicity of the gospel; good works never save anyone, and to those who are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
This verse establishes the central contrast between how the world sees the cross and what it is to believers.
1 Corinthians 1:19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
God sets aside human wisdom as a means of salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Human wisdom is rendered foolish by God.
1 Corinthians 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
This is the key verse showing God's chosen method of salvation through preaching to those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Human approaches to God differ, but neither can save.
1 Corinthians 1:23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
The crucified Christ is the message that the world rejects.
1 Corinthians 1:24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
To God's called ones, Christ is the power and wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
God's 'foolishness' is far wiser and stronger than human strength.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:21, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. God's saving power is released through the message of the cross when a person believes the gospel.
No. The Bible says the world by wisdom did not know God, and Les Feldick teaches that man's physical strength cannot accomplish spiritual salvation. Good works never save anybody.
A person must believe that Christ died for their sin, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. That belief releases the power of God for salvation.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Cross Is Foolishness to the World — 1 Corinthians 1:18-25