For the lost, the preaching of the cross is foolishness—yet that same message is the power of God by which they can be saved.
Paul says the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again is considered foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18; 15:3-4). Les Feldick explains that lost people see no connection to an event 2,000 years ago, but it has everything to do with them because it was the eternal God on the cross. Those who believe this gospel receive it as the power of God that sets them free from sin.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This key verse states directly that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those who are saved.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — These verses define the content of the preaching of the cross: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
Paul writes plainly, 'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God' (1 Corinthians 1:18). The message that the lost call foolishness is described in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: '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 also describes the mindset of the lost world: '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' (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).
Les Feldick repeatedly returns to 1 Corinthians 1:18 and applies it directly to today. The 'preaching of the cross' is the gospel message: Christ died, was buried, and rose again. To those who are perishing—the lost, unsaved world—that message is foolishness. He observes that people say, 'What's something that took place 2,000 years ago got to do with me today?' and he answers that it has everything to do with them because it was the eternal God who was on that cross. Les emphasizes the word 'power.' To those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. That power is what sets people free from the shackles of sin, and it is never released until a person believes the gospel that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. Good works can never save anybody; salvation requires God's power operating through the message of the cross.
Paul says plainly, 'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness' (1 Corinthians 1:18). Les Feldick points out that we see this all around us: people just cannot comprehend that what someone did 2,000 years ago has any effect on us today. They reject the cross, ridicule it, and scorn it, asking what an event so long ago has to do with them. Paul also notes that Jews require a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom, showing that the natural mind of the lost looks for something other than the cross.
The content of the preaching of the cross is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: '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.' Les Feldick says it plainly: 'What's the preaching of the cross? That Christ died, was buried, and rose again. That's it.' This was the message Paul preached everywhere as the gospel.
Les Feldick answers the lost world's most common question directly: 'Hey, it's got everything to do with us today, because it's the eternal God who was on that cross.' The cross is not merely a historical event; it involved the eternal God. What happened there has a direct bearing on every person today, even though the lost world sees it as foolishness.
Paul says that to those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is 'the power of God' (1 Corinthians 1:18). Les Feldick explains that it takes the power of God to save us and set us free from the shackles of sin, and that power is never released until we believe the gospel that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. That is why good works can never save anyone; salvation is entirely the work of God's power through the cross.
The Gospel Defined: Christ Died, Was Buried, and Rose Again
Les teaches that the gospel Paul preached to the Corinthians—which is the preaching of the cross—is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, not something found in the Old Testament or Christ's earthly ministry.
The Cross Is Foolishness to Those Who Perish
Les applies 1 Corinthians 1:18 to today: lost people cannot comprehend that what someone did 2,000 years ago could affect them, so the cross is foolishness to them, while to believers it is the power of God.
The Eternal God Was on the Cross
Les shows that the lost reject and scorn the cross as foolishness because they see no connection to an event 2,000 years ago, but it has everything to do with them because the eternal God was on that cross.
God's Power Is Released Through Faith in the Gospel
Les teaches that the unbelieving world considers the cross foolishness, but it takes God's power to save us from sin, and that power is released only when we believe the gospel—Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again.
The Preaching of the Cross Summarized
Les identifies the preaching of the cross simply as Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and says the world regards that message as foolishness because it seems disconnected from today.
The Lost Ask Why the Past Matters
Les notes that lost people ask what someone who died 2,000 years ago has to do with them, and he answers 'everything,' adding that the cross is the power of God to the saved and that good works never save anyone.
Jews Seek Signs, Greeks Seek Wisdom
Les connects 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 to apostolic preaching: the perishing world is looking for signs or wisdom, but the preaching of the cross is the gospel that is the power of God to those who are saved.
The Cross Message Is Paul's Entire Gospel
Les says Paul's only message is the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—and that to the unsaved world the preaching of the cross is foolishness.
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 answering the question: the lost regard the cross message as foolishness, while the saved recognize it as God's power.
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.
This passage shows why the lost reject the cross: they are looking for signs or human wisdom rather than accepting Christ crucified.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: 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:
These verses define the actual content of the preaching of the cross—the gospel message the lost regard as foolishness.
Paul says the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. Les Feldick explains that lost people cannot comprehend how something that happened 2,000 years ago can affect them today, so they reject and ridicule it. The same message is the power of God to those who are saved.
It is the gospel message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Les Feldick summarizes it simply as Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
Yes. Les Feldick says it has everything to do with us today because it was the eternal God who was on that cross. The power of God is released to save people from sin when they believe the gospel that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again.
Watch the Teaching: What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels