So when the Church tells you that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and Jesus taught that only belief was necessary, in whom do you put your trust? Part 4: Confirmation

Part 4: Confirmation – Sealed for Mission

by Keith Abell RPh MI

When I first began responding to the challenges from a fundamentalist Christian back in 1998, I was forced to confront questions I had never really asked myself — questions about what we believe as Catholics and why. One of those questions was:

“If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?”

As a cradle Catholic, I had received the Sacraments — Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation — but I hadn’t truly understood their purpose. I knew they were important, but I didn’t know why they were essential. I hadn’t connected them to Scripture, to the early Church, or to the mission Jesus gave us.

I received Confirmation when I was young, dressed up, stood before the bishop, and was anointed with chrism oil. It was a beautiful ceremony — but I didn’t fully understand what it meant. I thought it was just a rite of passage, a kind of “Catholic graduation.” I didn’t realize it was a personal Pentecost, a moment when the Holy Spirit came upon me to strengthen, seal, and send me into the world as a disciple of Christ.

In this fourth post of our 7-part series, we’ll explore:

• The biblical foundations of Confirmation,
• Its connection to Jewish anointing and spiritual empowerment,
• How Jesus’ own coming of age foreshadows this sacrament, and
• What the early Church Fathers and saints taught about being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

“So when the Church tells you that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and Jesus taught that only belief was necessary, in whom do you put your trust?”

Faith Alone? Why Confirmation Matters

As we’ve seen throughout this series, the idea of “faith alone” is not what Jesus taught. He called His followers to believe, yes — but also to follow, obey, and receive. Confirmation is the sacrament that strengthens the grace of Baptism and equips us for mission.

Galatians 5:6 – “Faith working through love.”

Faith is not passive. It’s active. And Confirmation is the moment when the Holy Spirit empowers us to live out our faith boldly, especially in a world that often opposes it.

Biblical Foundations of Confirmation

Laying on of Hands and the Gift of the Spirit

• Acts 8:14–17 – Peter and John lay hands on baptized believers in Samaria: “They had only been baptized… then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 19:5–6 – Paul lays hands on baptized Christians: “When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.”
• Hebrews 6:1–2 – Lists “baptisms” and “laying on of hands” as distinct foundational teachings.

These passages show that Confirmation is not the same as Baptism — it is a distinct sacrament, where the Holy Spirit is conferred through the laying on of hands.

Old Testament Foreshadowing: Anointing for Mission

In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was used to consecrate kings, prophets, and priests:

• 1 Samuel 16:13 – “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David… and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.”
• Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…”

This anointing was not symbolic — it was a real empowerment for mission. Confirmation continues this tradition, anointing us to be witnesses of Christ in the world.

Jesus at Age 12: A Foreshadowing of Spiritual Maturity

In Luke 2:41–52, Jesus, at age 12, stays behind in the Temple and amazes the teachers with His wisdom. When Mary and Joseph find Him, He says:

“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

This moment marks Jesus’ coming of age, a public step into His identity and mission. It foreshadows what Confirmation does for us — it’s the moment we step into spiritual adulthood, ready to live our faith with conviction.

What the Early Church Believed About Confirmation

• St. Hippolytus (3rd century)
  “After Baptism, the bishop lays hands on each of them, invoking the Holy Spirit… and then anoints them with the oil of thanksgiving.”
• St. Cyril of Jerusalem (4th century)
  “Be not ashamed to confess your faith… the Holy Spirit is coming upon you.”
• St. Ambrose of Milan
  “You were anointed with chrism… and the Holy Spirit was poured into your soul.”
• St. Thomas Aquinas
  Called Confirmation the “Sacrament of the soldier of Christ,” equipping the soul for spiritual battle.

The early Church saw Confirmation as a necessary strengthening — not a formality, but a divine commissioning.

Conclusion: Sealed for Mission

Confirmation is not a graduation. It’s a beginning. It’s the moment when the Holy Spirit seals us with grace, strengthens us for spiritual battle, and sends us into the world as witnesses of Christ.

So when someone asks, “If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?” — we can answer:

Because Jesus didn’t just say “believe.” He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He sent His apostles to lay hands, to anoint, and to commission.

Stay Tuned for Part 5: Matrimony – A Covenant of Grace

In the next post, we’ll explore the Sacrament of Matrimony, a holy covenant instituted by God from the beginning and elevated by Christ. We’ll look at its biblical roots, its purpose, and how marriage reflects the love between Christ and His Church.

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