Yes — the preaching of the cross is essential for salvation because it is the gospel message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and it is the power of God to everyone who believes it.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul says the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish but the power of God to those who are saved. Les Feldick explains that the preaching of the cross is the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again — the finished work of the cross. Since salvation requires the sovereign power of God, and that power is released when a person believes this gospel, the preaching of the cross is indispensable for salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — This is the key verse where Paul directly connects the preaching of the cross with the power of God to those who are saved.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — This passage defines the content of the gospel — Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — which is the preaching of the cross.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV) 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." The same message of the cross produces two opposite responses: those who are perishing consider it foolishness, while those who are saved experience it as God's power. The Bible defines what this message contains in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV): "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 states plainly that it is by this gospel that believers are saved. In 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, Paul explains that the Jews required a sign and the Greeks sought after wisdom, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
Les Feldick stresses that the preaching of the cross is the gospel: "That Christ died, was buried, and rose again. That's it" (Clip 4). He ties this directly to 1 Corinthians 1:18, showing that the world sees it as foolishness because people cannot comprehend that what someone did 2,000 years ago has any effect on us today (Clips 3, 4, 5). To those who reject and ridicule it, it remains foolishness — but to those who believe it, the preaching of the cross becomes the power of God (Clips 1, 5). Les explains that salvation must be an exercise of the sovereign power of Almighty God. All man has is physical strength; only God can bring about the salvation of the spiritual (Clip 1). It took greater amounts of God's power to save a sinner than to create the universe, and that very power of God has to become instrumental in our salvation — which is why we cannot work for it or merit it (Clip 6). The way that power is released is by believing the gospel (Clip 6). The gospel, Les says, is the finished work of the cross: Christ crucified, buried, and risen, with His shed blood implied in His death (Clip 7). There is nothing we can do to get ourselves out of our lost estate in sin (Clip 7).
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul speaks of "the preaching of the cross." Les Feldick defines it plainly: "What's the preaching of the cross? That Christ died, was buried, and rose again. That's it" (Clip 4). He points to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, where Paul says the gospel by which we are saved is that Christ was crucified, was buried, and rose from the dead. Les adds that implied in Christ's death is the shed blood — "We can't leave that out" (Clip 7). The preaching of the cross, then, is the proclamation of the finished work of the cross.
Les explains that the world's response to the cross is unbelief and ridicule. People say, "How can I believe that somebody 2,000 years ago has got anything to do with me today?" (Clips 3, 4). They reject, scorn, and ridicule the message (Clip 5). To "them that perish" — those who simply reject it — the preaching of the cross is foolishness, exactly as 1 Corinthians 1:18 states. Yet their dismissal does not change the message's power for those who believe.
Les teaches that salvation has to be "an exercise of the sovereign power of an Almighty God." All man has is physical strength, but only God can bring about the salvation of the spiritual (Clip 1). He says it took greater amounts of God's power to save a sinner than it did to create the universe — the very power of God has to become instrumental in our salvation (Clip 6). That is why a person cannot work for salvation or merit it. The power is released by believing the gospel: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (Clip 6). Because the eternal God was on the cross, what happened 2,000 years ago has everything to do with us today (Clip 5).
Les points to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 as an example of someone who was religious but did not have salvation. He had been to Jerusalem to worship at one of the feast days, yet on his way back to Ethiopia, Philip led him to the place of salvation — meaning he had not been saved before (Clip 0). This illustrates that religion and religious activity are not the same as believing the gospel of the cross.
Ethiopian Eunuch's Need for Salvation
Les shows that religious activity and being a proselyte do not bring salvation; even the Ethiopian eunuch, who had been to Jerusalem to worship, was not saved until Philip led him to the place of salvation.
God's Sovereign Power in Salvation
Les teaches that Christ paid the sin debt and suffered our punishment, and that salvation must be the exercise of God's sovereign power — which is why man cannot work for it.
The Gospel and the Power of God
Les connects believing that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again to 1 Corinthians 1:18, where the preaching of the cross is the power of God to those who are saved.
The Cross Foolish to the World
Les explains that people cannot comprehend how what someone did 2,000 years ago has any effect on us today, so the preaching of the cross seems foolish to them — but to believers it is the power of God.
Defining the Preaching of the Cross
Les defines the preaching of the cross as the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again — nothing more and nothing less.
The Eternal God on the Cross
Les emphasizes that the eternal God was on the cross, so what happened 2,000 years ago has everything to do with us today; those who reject and ridicule it see foolishness, but those who believe experience God's power.
Power Released by Believing
Les says the very power of God must become instrumental in our salvation, and that power is released by believing the gospel — not by working for or meriting salvation.
The Finished Work of the Cross
Les says the gospel is that Christ was crucified, was buried, and rose from the dead, with His shed blood implied in His death — the finished work of the cross. There is nothing we can do to escape our lost estate in sin.
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 core verse showing that the cross message is God's saving power to those who believe.
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 that saves as Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Explains why the cross was dismissed by different groups in Paul's day.
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 those who are called, Christ is the power of God.
It is the message that Christ died, was buried, and rose again for our sins. Les Feldick says this is the gospel by which people are saved, as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:18, the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish. Les explains that the world cannot comprehend how something someone did 2,000 years ago could affect us today, so they reject and ridicule it.
Les teaches that all man has is physical strength, but only God can bring about the salvation of the spiritual. Saving a sinner takes greater power than creating the universe, so salvation can never be earned or merited.
A person must believe the gospel — that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Les Feldick says this is the preaching of the cross, and believing it releases the power of God for salvation.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross