Yes, according to 1 Corinthians 1:18, the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are saved it is the power of God.
The world sees the cross as foolish because it cannot comprehend how an event from 2,000 years ago could affect them today. But for believers, the preaching of the cross—that Christ died, was buried, and rose again—is the very power of God unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This verse directly states that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish but the power of God to those who are saved, which is the core of the answer.
1 Corinthians 1:18 declares, "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 draws a clear contrast between two groups: those who are perishing and those who are being saved. To the perishing, the message of the cross is foolishness, but to the saved, it is the power of God.
Les Feldick explains that the preaching of the cross—defined as Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—is foolishness to the unsaved world because they cannot see how an event from 2,000 years ago has any relevance to their lives today. He emphasizes that this foolishness is a direct result of human wisdom and the lack of spiritual understanding. But to those who are saved, the same message becomes the power of God, the very means by which God sets people free from the shackles of sin. Les stresses that this power is only released when a person believes the gospel, and that human reasoning or persuasive speech cannot bring anyone to salvation.
Les Feldick notes that the world sees the cross as foolishness because people cannot comprehend how something done 2,000 years ago could have any effect on them today. He frequently quotes the common objection: "What's something that took place 2,000 years ago got to do with me today?" This mindset is typical of the unsaved world.
According to Les, the preaching of the cross is the simple message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. He identifies this as the core of the gospel that Paul preached.
Les emphasizes that while the world sees the cross as foolishness, to those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. This power is what saves and sets believers free from sin.
Why the Cross Is Foolishness to the World — 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
thought they had no spiritual interest. So never, never deviate from testing all the possibilities. Try whatever you think you might be able to do to get the word across. All right, now back in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 17 again, where Paul is admonishing the Corinthians to forget about their divisions concerning who they're following.
Definition of the Preaching of the Cross
Les defines the preaching of the cross as the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and notes that the world sees this as foolishness because they cannot relate to an event from 2,000 years ago.
World's Inability to Comprehend
Les explains that people just cannot comprehend that what someone did 2,000 years ago has any effect on us today, which is why the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them.
Contrast with the Power of God
Les contrasts the world's view of the cross as foolishness with believers' experience of it as the power of God, which saves and sets free from sin.
The Cross as Foolishness to Rejecters
Les states that those who reject and ridicule the cross see it as foolishness, asking how an event from 2,000 years ago could matter today.
The Cross as Foolishness to Lost People
Les again emphasizes that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to lost people, who question its relevance, but to those saved it is the power of God.
Paul's Gospel and the World's Reaction
Les explains that Paul's gospel, the preaching of the cross, is foolishness to the unsaved world, and he will later show how the world treats the gospel.
Becoming a Fool to Be Wise
Les connects the idea that an unsaved person must become a fool (by believing the cross) to become truly wise, referencing 1 Corinthians 1:18.
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 key verse that contrasts the perception of the cross between the perishing and the saved.
1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Paul emphasizes that he preaches the gospel without human wisdom, showing that the effectiveness of the cross does not depend on eloquence.
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:
This passage defines the gospel, which is the content of the preaching of the cross.
The world sees the cross as foolishness because it cannot comprehend how an event from 2,000 years ago could have any relevance to their lives today. People often ask, "What's something that took place 2,000 years ago got to do with me today?" This mindset reflects their inability to grasp the spiritual importance of Christ's death.
The preaching of the cross is the simple gospel message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. This is the core of the gospel that Paul preached.
To those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God because it is through believing this message that God saves and liberates people from the shackles of sin. This power is released when a person believes the gospel.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Cross Is Foolishness to the World — 1 Corinthians 1:18-25