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November 4, 2026 8:54 am

THE BIBLE STUDY – November 4, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto -- A Confessional Lutheran Church ... View MoreTHE BIBLE STUDY – November 4, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto -- A Confessional Lutheran Church This Wednesday’s readings from the daily lectionary are Jeremiah 5:1-19 and Matthew 22:23-46. Jeremiah is sent throughout Jerusalem to look for a righteous man, someone who seeks truth and justice. He finds none. From the poor to the great, all have broken the Lord’s covenant. The prophet’s words leave no room for self-justification. God’s people had received His Word, His patience, and His mercy, yet they persisted in unbelief. The result would be judgment and tragedy. The Law still searches us today in our secular world. How often and how far do our hearts wander from faith in the true, Triune God? Our society fears, loves, and trusts many things above the Lord. Like Jerusalem of old, we stand guilty before the Almighty who sees all. The Sadducees in Matthew Chapter 22 reveal another form of unbelief. They come to Jesus not to learn, but to trap Him. Denying the resurrection, they reduce God's promises to what can be explained by human reason. Jesus exposes the root problem: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). What a piercing diagnosis. Unbelief always underestimates both God's Word and power. Yet here the Gospel shines brightly. Jesus declares that the patriarchs still live before God: “He is not God of the dead, but of the living” (Matt. 22:32). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had long since died, yet God remained their Lord because His covenant promises endure beyond the grave. As Martin Luther observed, the living are those who have received the Gospel. The Lord's faithfulness is stronger than death itself. The reading concludes with Jesus asking whose Son the Christ is. David calls Him “Lord.” The answer is clear: the promised Messiah is both David’s Son and David’s Lord; He is both true God and true man. Only such a Saviour can rescue sinners from judgment and destroy death itself. Therefore, when the Law exposes our sin and the brokenness of our fallen world, trust in Christ and the sweetness of the Gospel. The God who judged Jerusalem also raised His Son. In Him, the guilty are forgiven, the dead are made alive, and the promise of resurrection and eternal life for believers is sure. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, David’s Son and David’s Lord, forgive our unbelief and strengthen us by Your Word. In a broken, sinful world, keep us steadfast in the hope of the resurrection, trusting that because You live, we also shall live. Amen. Our Hymn of the Day from Lutheran Service Book is LSB 461, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRjeN5-pf-U&list=RDyRjeN5-pf-U&start_radio=1

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November 1, 2026 7:00 pm

REFORMATION SUNDAY Our Bible Study for November 1, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, al... View MoreREFORMATION SUNDAY Our Bible Study for November 1, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Romans 3:21-22 “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” Martin Luther, Preface to the Book of Romans, 1522 ________________________________________ (All readings are from the English Standard Version) Our First Reading: Ephesians 2:4-9 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Commentary on the First Reading Ephesians 2:4-9 stands among the clearest and most beloved summaries of the Gospel in all of Holy Scripture. Having just described humanity as spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, Paul now turns to the great reversal accomplished by God: “But God, being rich in mercy” (v. 4). These words are a declaration that salvation begins not with man, but with God. Sinners contribute nothing to their rescue. God alone acts. Paul emphasizes the reason for salvation: God’s love and mercy. Fallen humanity deserves judgment, yet God acts according to His gracious character. While we were spiritually dead, God “made us alive together with Christ” (v. 5). A dead person cannot choose life or save themselves, nor can sinners raise themselves from spiritual death. Just as Christ was raised from the tomb by the power of God, so believers are raised to new life through the saving work of Christ. The Apostle repeats Christianity's central truth: “By grace you have been saved.” Grace is God's undeserved favour toward sinners. Salvation is not a reward for moral effort, religious achievement, or spiritual progress. It is God's gift. Verses 8-9 formed a cornerstone of the Lutheran Reformation. Paul leaves no room for boasting. Salvation is “not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” Even faith itself is received from God. Faith is not a human accomplishment but the hand that receives what Christ has already won through His life, death, and resurrection. This passage dismantles every attempt to contribute to our justification. The Gospel removes us from the marketplace of human merit and places us entirely in the hands of Jesus. For this reason, the believer's confidence rests not in the quality of our faith or the strength of our works, but in the completed work of Jesus Christ. Grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone remains the Church's confession and comfort. ________________________________________ Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Commentary on the Psalm Reading Psalm 46 has long been known as the Psalm of the Reformation. It stands behind, and was the inspiration for Luther's great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The Psalm begins with a confession of remarkable confidence: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v. 1). The believer's security does not rest upon earthly institutions, personal abilities, or favourable circumstances, but upon God Himself. The psalmist describes mountains falling into the sea and the earth giving way. These images portray the collapse of everything people ordinarily trust. Yet God’s people do not fear because the Lord remains steadfast. Throughout history, kingdoms have risen and fallen, governments have changed, and cultures have shifted, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Central to the Psalm is the repeated refrain: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (vv. 7, 11). This is the source of true confidence. God does not merely observe His people from a distance; He dwells among them and fights for them. The Reformation recovered this confidence in God's Word. Martin Luther faced powerful opposition from emperors, princes, and church authorities, yet found comfort in the truth proclaimed by Psalm 46. God's kingdom cannot be overthrown because it rests upon His promises. The Psalm ultimately points us to Christ. He is our refuge against sin, death, and the devil. Through His cross and resurrection, He has won a victory no earthly power can undo. Therefore, the Church continues to confess with confidence: “The Lord of hosts is with us.” ________________________________________ Second Reading: Romans 1:16-17 The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Commentary on the Second Reading Romans 1:16-17 serves as the theme statement for the entire Epistle to the Romans and was instrumental in Luther's rediscovery of the Gospel. Paul boldly declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” For many in the ancient world, a crucified Messiah appeared foolish and weak. Yet Paul proclaims that the Gospel is nothing less than “the power of God for salvation.” Notice that Paul does not say the Gospel merely contains power or points toward power. The Gospel itself is God's saving power. Through the proclamation of Christ crucified and risen, God creates faith and grants salvation. The Gospel is not advice about how sinners might save themselves. It is the announcement of what God has already done through His Son. The Apostle then reveals why the Gospel has such power: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.” Before Luther understood these words rightly, they troubled him. He heard “the righteousness of God” as a description of God's perfect justice that condemns sinners. Through careful study of Romans, however, Luther came to see that Paul is speaking of righteousness that God gives to sinners through faith in Christ. This righteousness is not achieved; it is received. It is Christ's righteousness credited to believers. Paul declares that in the Gospel, “the righteousness of God” (Christ’s righteousness) “is revealed from faith, for faith.” The Apostle is saying that faith is God’s gift created by the Gospel, and that this faith receives the gifts of the Gospel: forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. It is entirely God’s work. God declares sinners righteous for Christ's sake, apart from their works, merits, or accomplishments. The passage concludes with Habakkuk's words: “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) Faith does not save because it is a worthy work. Faith saves because it is founded in and clings to Christ. The object of faith is what matters. Even weak faith receives a strong Saviour. These two verses summarize the heart of the Reformation. Salvation comes not through human effort, but through God's gracious gift in Christ. The Gospel reveals a righteousness from God, given freely, creating faith, comforting consciences, and granting eternal life. ________________________________________ Third Reading: Romans 3:19-28 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. The Righteousness of God Through Faith 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Commentary on the Third Reading Romans 3:19-28 stands at the very center of Paul's teaching on justification and has rightly been called one of the most important passages in Scripture. Here the Apostle brings humanity into God's courtroom and delivers the verdict of the Law. Paul first explains that the Law silences every excuse. “Every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God” (v. 19). The Law reveals God's holiness and exposes human sinfulness. Rather than justifying us, the Law shows us our need for salvation. “Through the law comes knowledge of sin” (v. 20). At this point the Gospel breaks into the discussion with two glorious words: “But now” (v. 21). God has provided a righteousness apart from the Law. This righteousness does not arise from human obedience but from Jesus Christ. Paul declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (v. 23). No person stands above this verdict. Yet immediately comes the comfort of the Gospel: sinners are “justified by his grace as a gift” (v. 24). The language could not be clearer. Justification is free. It is grace. It is God's gift. Christ accomplished this salvation through His redemptive sacrifice. Upon the cross He bore the judgment our sins deserved. God's justice was satisfied, and God's mercy was revealed. The Father’s resurrection of the Son shows that this once-for-all sacrifice was acceptable. The sinner is declared righteous solely because of Christ's atoning blood. Paul's conclusion became the battle cry of the Reformation: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (v. 28). The Church stands or falls on this doctrine. If salvation depends even partially upon human works, our assurance is gone. But if justification rests entirely upon Christ, the troubled conscience finds peace. Here is the heart of Christianity: guilty sinners are declared righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. ________________________________________ Pastoral Application These readings proclaim the central truth of the Bible recovered by the Lutheran Reformation: salvation belongs entirely to God through Christ. • Ephesians teaches that salvation is God's gift from beginning to end. • Psalm 46 reminds believers that God's Word remains firm even when the world appears unstable. • Romans Chapter 1 reveals that the Gospel itself is God's power for salvation. • Romans Chapter 3 exposes our sin through the Law and then comforts us with Christ's perfect righteousness. • Faith is not a work we perform for God; it is the gift through which we receive Christ. • Our assurance rests not in the strength of our faith, but in the perfection of our Saviour. • The Gospel frees Christians from the burden of trying to earn God's favour. • Reformation Sunday reminds us that the Church must always be called back to Christ and His Word. Closing Prayer – Merciful Father, we thank You for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through which You freely grant forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life. Strengthen our faith through Your Word and Sacraments, and keep us steadfast in the confession that we are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Preserve Your Church in the truth of the Gospel, and grant us confidence and peace in our Saviour. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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October 31, 2026 10:47 am

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY! October 31, 1517, was the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to a Church door in Wittenberg, Germany. The Theses were a challenge to the catholic church’s practice of sel... View More

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October 27, 2026 9:08 am

THE BIBLE STUDY – October 27, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto -- A Confessional Lutheran Church ... View MoreTHE BIBLE STUDY – October 27, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto -- A Confessional Lutheran Church Our readings this Tuesday from the daily lectionary are Deuteronomy 29:1-28 and Matthew 18:21-35. Moses warns Israel: “Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God... Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit” (Deut. 29:18). Israel's greatest danger was not an external enemy, but an unbelieving heart that turned away from the living God. Such apostasy begins inwardly before it appears outwardly. The same warning remains urgent today. Many abandon the Christian faith for the spiritual fashions of the age. Some are drawn to pagan religions, others to false New Age spirituality, occult practices, witchcraft, or attempts to gain spiritual knowledge apart from God's Word. Scripture consistently teaches that these paths do not lead to enlightenment, but away from the Lord who alone gives life and salvation. What begins as curiosity can become a bitter root that chokes faith and bears poisonous fruit. Yet Moses' warning is also a call to repentance. The Lord desires that sinners return to Him. Through His Word and Sacraments found in the true Church, He preserves His people from wandering and continually calls the erring back to Himself. In our Gospel text, Peter asks how often he should forgive. Jesus responds with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The point is not that Christians achieve perfect forgiveness toward others. Our forgiveness is often weak, incomplete, and hindered by our sinful flesh. Like the servant, we struggle with resentment, pride, and self-justification. Therefore, our confidence cannot rest in the quality of our forgiveness, but in Christ's forgiveness of us. The King in the parable cancels an unpayable debt, pointing us to the immeasurable debt of sin forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the cross, Christ purchased and won forgiveness once and for all. Because His forgiveness is complete, our standing before God is secure through faith in Him. Martin Luther captured this in the Large Catechism: "And let no one think that as long as we live here, he can reach such a position that he will not need such forgiveness. In short, if God does not forgive without ceasing, we are lost." (Luther, Large Catechism, Commentary on the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer) This is the Christian life: daily repentance, daily forgiveness, and daily faith in Christ. Having received such mercy, we are then freed to forgive our neighbor, imperfectly yet sincerely, as those who have first been forgiven much. Prayer: Merciful Father, keep us from every false religion, occult deception, and wandering from Your holy Word. Grant us steadfast faith in Christ, whose perfect sacrifice has won the full forgiveness of all our sins. Having received Your mercy, help us also to forgive others with humble and thankful hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Hymn for the Day from Lutheran Service Book is LSB 655, “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ViZi7M5p4&list=RDS8ViZi7M5p4&start_radio=1

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October 25, 2026 8:48 pm

THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST October 25, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Bible readings: ... View MoreTHE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST October 25, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Bible readings: Old Testament – Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Psalm 1 Epistle – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13 Gospel – Matthew 22:34-46 Our Hymn of the Day from Lutheran Service Book is LSB 803, “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vyYPwEMMNs&list=RD4vyYPwEMMNs&start_radio=1 The Sermon – “True God and true man” What must we do to please God? How ‘good’ must we be? How much love must we show? When we stand before God's judgment seat, will our lives be adequate to meet His demands? People have asked these questions throughout the ages. In today's Gospel text, a religious lawyer asks Jesus: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” The question is intended to entrap Christ. The temple authorities were looking to condemn Him. Yet His answer reveals something far more important than this Pharisee expected. Jesus shows us both the holiness God requires and the One in whom our salvation is found. First, Jesus reveals what God's Law demands. Christ answers, quoting the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:5 : “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and first commandment. Then Jesus adds, “And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. Christ summarizes God's entire moral Law. We are to love God with our whole being, holding nothing back from Him. We are also to love neighbour as self, seeking the good of others rather than our own advantage. Our Old Testament reading from Leviticus helps bring this into focus. The Lord commands His people not to show partiality, slander, harbour hatred, or seek vengeance. Instead, they are to love their neighbour as themselves. God's Law extends far beyond outward behaviour. We might congratulate ourselves for not having murdered anyone, yet still harbour resentment and anger. We might avoid speaking maliciously, while inwardly delighting in a person's misfortune. We can appear religious while allowing pride, envy, or indifference to replace compassion. God’s Law judges the heart. In Leviticus, the Lord declares, “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” This isn’t a demand for a respectable outward demeanor. God requires absolute holiness, perfect righteousness, and genuine love. Who among us can claim to have fulfilled this commandment? Have we loved God with all our heart, soul, and mind every moment of our lives? Have we always trusted Him above all else? Have we loved neighbours as faithfully and generously as we love ourselves? We have not. In Martin Luther’s explanation of the First Commandment in the Large Catechism, he wrote that the fundamental question is where we place our fear, love, and trust. Our problem isn’t that we sometimes make ‘mistakes.’ The Apostle Paul made clear, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) God’s Law cannot be softened to console us. Nor can we make amends for our failures by promising to do better tomorrow. The Commandments remain holy and good; they expose our need for a Saviour. This is the Law doing its proper work. It brings us to repentance and strips away every claim of righteousness based upon personal effort. But thanks be to God, Jesus doesn’t leave us with the Law's demands and our failure to fulfil them. In our Gospel passage, Christ next reveals who He truly is. After answering the treacherous lawyer, Jesus asks a question: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” The Pharisees answer correctly: Christ, the promised Messiah, is the Son of David. Jesus then asks them to consider the words of Psalm 110: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’” If David calls the Messiah “Lord,” how can the Messiah be merely David's son? The question reveals the mystery of Christ's identity. He is indeed the promised Son of David, descended from this earthly king according to His human nature. Yet He is also David's Lord, the eternal Son of the Heavenly Father, who shares the divine King’s godly majesty. This is the great confession of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ is both true God and true Man. Why does this matter for us? Because the One who must save us is not merely another human being who shares our guilt and weaknesses. He is God Himself, who has come among us to accomplish our salvation. The two parts of today's Gospel belong together. First, Jesus declares the perfect love God requires. That shows us our sin. Then He reveals the identity of the Saviour who alone fulfils that requirement. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus loved His Father without reservation. He perfectly obeyed the Father's will because He was without sin. He loved His neighbour completely. He welcomed the broken, healed the sick, comforted the sorrowful, and showed mercy to those others despised. Yet, His greatest act of love was at Calvary. There, He bore the judgment our disobedience deserved. The One who perfectly fulfilled the Law took upon Himself the punishment we earned. This is the Gospel: God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Because Jesus is true Man, He stands in our place and fulfils the Law on our behalf. Because He is true God, His saving work is sufficient for all sinners. His death is not merely an example of love; it is the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. It is how we are reconciled to God the Father. We don’t earn this salvation through obedience or ‘good works’. We receive it by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. The righteousness God requires is found in Christ. Through faith, worked in us by the Holy Spirit using God’s Word and Sacraments, His righteousness is credited to believers. Our confidence before God rests not upon the perfection of our love, but upon the perfect love of our Saviour. In Him there is forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Does this mean that God's commandments no longer matter? By no means. The Lord who forgives also calls us to live as His holy people. Yet we do not love God and our neighbours to earn forgiveness. We love because God has first loved us. We have been given the gift of faith, and that faith bears fruit. We learn to forgive because we have been forgiven. We seek the good of neighbour because Christ has loved us. We resist hatred, slander, and vengeance because God's Spirit is at work renewing our hearts. In this life we can never fulfil the Commandments perfectly. So, we repent daily and return to Christ for forgiveness. Yet we do so with confidence, knowing our hope is not in ourselves, but in our crucified and risen Saviour. To Christ alone be all glory, praise and honour, now and forever.

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October 19, 2026 5:39 pm

Should Christians celebrate a pagan holiday that makes the occult ‘fun’? Here’s a link to a video that explains the demonic origins of Halloween: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtR8x0arrnM Pastor ... View More

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