I became a Christian at age 6 when “I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour”. Where’s that in the Bible? It’s true, he saved me personally. But how did that become the core message of salvation?

The concept gained traction during the evangelical revivals of the 18th century, and the phrase became popular in the mid-20th. You might remember The Four Spiritual Laws, starting with “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”.

But the problem has been around since the very beginning. Us humans making it all about our own salvation, while God was making covenants—not to rescue individuals, but to form a people who would multiply, fill the earth, bless the nations, and reign under His authority.

1. Adam: The Covenant of Creation

“Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it.” —Genesis 1:28

God’s first covenant was with a couple, made in His image, called to rule. But the serpent offered something smaller: “You will be like God.” Eve wanted wisdom for herself. Adam stayed silent. Both reached for personal power instead of shared reign. They wanted to save themselves—and ended up exiled.

2. Noah: The Covenant of Preservation

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” —Genesis 9:1

God restarted humanity through a righteous family. But after the flood, Noah drank, Ham mocked and the family fractured. And then Babel: “Let’s build a tower… and make a name for ourselves.” They didn’t want to trust God’s promise. They wanted to stay put. They turned salvation into a construction project.

3. Abraham: The Covenant of Promise

“I will make you a great nation… and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” —Genesis 12:2–3

Abraham responded in faith to God’s promise to bless the world by leaving his family. But later, he and Sarah got impatient—Hagar bore Ishmael outside the promise. Joseph’s brothers turned on him, trying to secure the blessing for themselves. The family God formed to bless the nations became preoccupied with its own place.

4. Moses: The Covenant of Law

“You shall be my treasured possession among all peoples… a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” —Exodus 19:5–6

God delivered Israel and promised they could conquer giants and have their own land to rule. But in the wilderness, the people demanded comfort: “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

5. David: The Covenant of the Kingdom

“I will establish your throne forever.” —2 Samuel 7:13

God promised a king who would rule with justice and peace. But David saw Bathsheba and took her, Absalom tried to steal the throne, Solomon loved many women and their gods, and the kings that followed were worse. They wanted God’s blessing, but not His authority.

6. The Church: The New Covenant in Christ

“Go and make disciples of all nations…” —Matthew 28:19

Jesus inaugurated a new covenant—with a people from every nation, filled with His Spirit, sent with His reign. But we made it about personal peace and emotional healing: “Jesus is in my heart.” We turned a kingdom into personal security.

Accept Jesus as My Personal Saviour

No! Don’t accept that limiting definition of Jesus.

He’s the King of all Kings, reigning here on earth today.

Jesus doesn’t just live in your heart. He reigns over a people who bless the world.