The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those who are saved.
1 Corinthians 1:18 draws the contrast directly: to them that perish it is foolishness, but to us which are saved it is the power of God. Les Feldick explains that the world sees no relevance in an event from 2,000 years ago, while believers receive the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again as the power that saves them.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This verse is the core answer, showing that the same preaching of the cross produces opposite responses in the perishing and the saved.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — This passage defines the gospel of the cross that Paul preached, by which believers are saved.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Scripture says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” In verses 22–24, Paul contrasts the Jews who require a sign and the Greeks who seek after wisdom with the called, both Jews and Greeks, who see Christ as the power of God and the wisdom of God. Then in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, Paul declares the gospel he preached—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures—and he says believers stand in it and are saved by it.
Les Feldick repeatedly returns to 1 Corinthians 1:18 to stress the same truth. He defines the preaching of the cross as the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again (clip 3). The world rejects this as foolishness, asking what a person who died 2,000 years ago has to do with them today; Les says it has everything to do with us because the eternal God was on the cross (clips 1, 6).
Les Feldick defines the preaching of the cross as the gospel message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again (clip 3). He points to 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul declares the gospel which he preached and in which believers stand and are saved (clips 0, 3).
The world sees the cross as foolishness because they cannot understand how something that took place 2,000 years ago could have any bearing on people today (clips 1, 6). Les says they reject, ridicule, and scorn it, and they think it does not amount to anything (clips 1, 2). Yet Les insists it has everything to do with us because the eternal God was on that cross (clip 1).
For those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God (clips 1, 2). Les teaches that the power of God saves us and sets us free from the shackles of sin, but that power can never be released from God until we believe the gospel that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again (clip 2). In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul tells believers they are saved by this gospel if they keep in memory what he preached (clip 0).
The Gospel by Which Believers Are Saved
Paul declares the gospel he preached, in which believers stand and by which they are saved, as found in 1 Corinthians 15.
The Preaching of the Cross Contrast
The cross is foolishness to those who perish, but the same preaching is the power of God to those who are saved.
The Power of God Released Through Belief
The world calls the cross foolishness, but to the saved it is God's power to set them free from sin, released when they believe the gospel.
Defining the Preaching of the Cross
The preaching of the cross is the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
The Cross and Israel at the Red Sea
Les connects salvation to Israel's helplessness at the Red Sea, where God told them to stand still, showing salvation is God's work.
Jews, Greeks, and the Called
The cross is foolishness to the perishing but God's power to the saved; Jews require signs and Greeks seek wisdom, while the called see Christ as God's power.
The World's Objection to the Cross
Lost people dismiss a Christ who lived and died 2,000 years ago, but to the saved it is God's power, which is why good works never save.
Foolishness of Preaching and Saving Faith
God saves by the foolishness of preaching the cross, and salvation comes through faith—the example of the woman who had not truly believed Christ died for her.
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 is the central verse showing the opposite effects of the cross on the perishing and the saved.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 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.
Paul explains why the cross seems foolish to the world while believers see Christ as God's power.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Paul defines the gospel of the cross that saves believers.
It is the gospel message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Les Feldick points to 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul declares the gospel he preached, in which believers stand and are saved.
They ask how something that happened 2,000 years ago can have any effect on them today. Les Feldick says the world's wisdom pushes God out of their existence, and they reject and ridicule the cross as foolishness.
For the saved, the preaching of the cross is God's power to save them and set them free from the shackles of sin. That power is released when they believe the gospel that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again.
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