Introduction

The Apostle Paul’s encounter with the Saviour on the road to Damascus forever changed his life. From that point forward, his efforts concerning the lost were directed toward one thing—the salvation of souls. This insatiable desire to see others saved even led him to wish that he could be cursed if this would bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. His fervency should drop every Christian to his knees in prayer for that type of zeal!

History of Mankind and the Passion

The Bible reveals that man was the direct creation of the all-powerful, all-knowing and benevolent God of the universe. Yet, after the Lord God created man and placed him in a perfect environment, He watched with broken heart as this wonderful creation—endowed with intellect, emotion and choice—consciously rebelled against his Creator. This rebellion caused mankind to surrender his state of sinless innocence and plummet into a sinful state of rebellion that continues to this day.

As a result of this loss of innocence, mankind was plunged into a hopeless and helpless state of despair and degradation, facing the inevitable outcome of disobedience—death and separation from God. So began the course of human history—a sorry novel of every kind of wickedness imaginable.