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This article discusses different Christian conceptions of divine salvation and their respective theological agendas and interests. Inspired by Augustine’s theology of sin, concupiscence and human depravation, one type of soteriology obliges God to save the human being from individual sin and damnation. Here, Christology has been defined by an understanding of human need. Alternatively, theology might wish to concentrate on the disclosure of God’s will for creation and for humanity within it. Here, Christology could reveal God’s gracious offer of love in Jesus Christ for and with humanity as well as the divine work of reconciliation through the network of interdependent and dynamic love relationships: God’s love and our love for God, for each other, for God’s ongoing work of creation and reconciliation, and our love for our own emerging selves. The critique of efforts to instrumentalise God and Christ for particular articulations of human needs might free theology to attend afresh to God’s loving, reconciling and transformative presence in our midst and thus focus on the emerging reign of God.