Do Protestants have the Holy Spirit?

[Kepha15]

I’ve been struggling for a while to find the answer to this one: According to the Catholic Church, only a bishop can administer the sacrament of confirmation, or the imparting of the Holy Spirit. My question is twofold:

First, where does the church get the belief that this can only be done by a bishop, given that in Acts 2, during Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is given to 120 believers at once by God himself?

And second, given our sacrament of confirmation, do Catholics believe Protestants have the Holy Spirit? How do Protestants receive the Holy Spirit (if they do at all)?

I can’t find this ANYWHERE. Someone please help!

 

[Newbie2]

I’ve been struggling for a while to find the answer to this one: According to the Catholic Church, only a bishop can administer the sacrament of confirmation, or the imparting of the Holy Spirit. My question is twofold:

First, where does the church get the belief that this can only be done by a bishop, given that in Acts 2, during Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is given to 120 believers at once by God himself?

And second, given our sacrament of confirmation, do Catholics believe Protestants have the Holy Spirit? How do Protestants receive the Holy Spirit (if they do at all)?

I can’t find this ANYWHERE. Someone please help!

Yes, Catholic theology allows that Protestants “have” the Holy Spirit. How do they receive it? Baptism, just like Catholics. Through Prayer, like Catholics. Through other means, just like Catholics. The Holy Spirit does not limit his visits to the Sacraments.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve been struggling for a while to find the answer to this one: According to the Catholic Church, only a bishop can administer the sacrament of confirmation, or the imparting of the Holy Spirit. My question is twofold:

First, where does the church get the belief that this can only be done by a bishop, given that in Acts 2, during Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is given to 120 believers at once by God himself?

And second, given our sacrament of confirmation, do Catholics believe Protestants have the Holy Spirit? How do Protestants receive the Holy Spirit (if they do at all)?

I can’t find this ANYWHERE. Someone please help!

yes all baptized Christians have received the initial indwelling of the Holy Spirit by virtue of their baptism. Note that in Acts the entire Church is gathered together under the leadership of Peter and the apostles when Christ sends the Holy Spirit upon them in fulfillment of his promise. Note further throughout Acts and the other letters whenever Paul and the other apostles encounter Christians who have only received baptism, they immediately confirm them, and when they encounter other Christians who have received the Spirit, they immediately baptize them. This underscores that from the beginning both sacraments, so close in nature and effect as to be almost indivisible, are necessary. “Unless a man be born again by water and the Holy Spirit . . .” Note further throughout the NT that it is the Church who confirms the conversions and reception of new members through the twin sacraments of baptism and confirmation, not an action an individual performs or causes to happen solely on his own initiative merely by a confession of faith. Recall the instance Paul’s jailer and his family who were inwardly converted but had to receive baptism and confirmation in order to be received into the Church.

No the Protestant denominations that do recognize confirmation as a separate ordinance or sacrament do not practice it validly because they have removed themselves from the authority of the bishops who have received that authority from Christ through the apostles.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

It is possible for anyone baptised to have the holy spirit and therefore possible for protestants who are validly baptised, however firstly it should be noted that not all protestant baptisms are valid and secondly that all valid baptisms are in truth Catholic baptisms that make a person a member of the Catholic Church even if carried out by a protestant.

Secondly because protestants lack access to the other sacraments normally necessary for maintaining the soul in a life of grace most of them, quite probably all of them have lost the Holy Spirit they received at their baptism due to the commitment of mortal sin, just one of which is enough to sever the connection of the soul to the divine life of grace.

 

[Jesus_123]

+God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are Eternally ONE . . . always and forever . . . where One Person of the **Holy Trinity **is . . . there also are the other **Two Persons **. . . God’s beloved children . . . whom Pope John XXIII called the “separated brethren” . . . receive and live in the Spirit even as do His Catholic children . . . our **Heavenly Father **is an equally loving Father to them all . . . and they are no less equally loved in the **Sacred Heart **of our beloved **Lord Jesus Christ **than His Catholic children . . . it is just that the fullness of the truths of God and the rich deposit of the treasures of the Faith have been entrusted to the Catholic Church and are partially yet unknown to them . . . *which is a great sadness . . . *

**THE CATECHISM OF THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH **

CHAPTER ONE
THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
VI. The Necessity of Baptism

1257
The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit."

**God **has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism,
but **he himself **is not bound by his sacraments.​

God blessed the women of our church with a wonderful teaching sister who taught a weekly weekday morning class for several years . . . which class grew to become a huge class of women of all ages and then overflowed into an evening session for those who weren’t able to attend the morning sessions . . . and she was led of our Wonderful Lord . . . following a chapter by chapter, verse by verse study of the :bible1: **Gospel of John **. . . to teach on the **Holy Spirit **and the actions and activities of the **Holy Spirt **as revealed in the **Old and New :bible1: Testaments **. . . it was an absolutely fascinating study . . . she dealt with the . . . falling upon . . . coming upon . . . filling . . . breath of God . . . receiving . . . blessing . . . etc., . . . all the various manifestations of the . . . Holy Wonderful Third Person of the Trinity . . . God the Holy Spirit . . . and the diversities of graces, diversities of ministries and diversities of operations of the Sweet Spirit of our Holy God written about in :bible1: I Corinthians 12 . . . it was an absolutely fascinating study . . .

One of the most important things she strongly stressed from the very beginning so that we could relate to the **Holy Spirit **properly was NEVER to call the Sweet Spirit of our Holy God. . . “it” . . . but to always call . . . God’s Wonderful Counselor . . . the Spirit of our Holy God . . . "Him" . . . recognizing Him as fully God . . . **the Holy Third Person of the Trinity **. . . it’s absolutely amazing how this one little change to always using the personal pronoun **“Him” **suddenly brings **God the Holy Spirit **into focus and up close and personal . . . and helps us keep from trying to limit God in His infinite mercy to our little finite imaginations . . .

Below are the links to The Catechism of the Catholic Church dealing with the **Sacrament of Baptism **and the Sacrament of Confirmation . . . which are quite distinct and very particular works of the **Sweet Spirit of our Holy God **in the lives of God’s children . . .

:compcoff: Link re Baptism: usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.shtml#chpt1
**Link re Confirmation: **http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art2.shtml

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . thank you Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+​

 

[Melchior_1]

Yes, Catholic theology allows that Protestants “have” the Holy Spirit. How do they receive it? Baptism, just like Catholics. Through Prayer, like Catholics. Through other means, just like Catholics. The Holy Spirit does not limit his visits to the Sacraments.

Well said Newbie. This is also why Protestant converts who have had a valid *(key word; valid. It must follow the proper baptismal form) *Baptism do not need to receive that Sacrament again, they only need to be Confirmed.

 

[Jesus_123]

… Secondly because protestants lack access to the other sacraments normally necessary for maintaining the soul in a life of grace most of them, quite probably all of them have lost the Holy Spirit they received at their baptism due to the commitment of mortal sin, just one of which is enough to sever the connection of the soul to the divine life of grace.

+In all charity and peace. . . the above quoted judgement is neither supported by Sacred :bible1: Scripture nor Catholic Church doctrine . . . Catholics have the avenue of sacramental grace available to them through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and are . . . as aware and knowledgeable Catholics definitely required . . . to avail themselves of this wonderful gracious holy sacramental provision . . . but neither Sacred :bible1: Scripture nor Catholic Church doctrine teach the wholesale condemnation to hell . . . *such as is quoted above *. . . of our merciful God’s faithful loving obedient children who live apart from our Holy Mother Church’s knowledge and holy awareness of this gracious sacramental provision . . . or of God’s children . . . non-Catholic or Catholic alike . . . who lack access to same . . .

**. . . :coffeeread: . . . **

1 Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

2 Matthew 6:14
For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly **Father **will forgive you also your offences.

3 Matthew 6:15
But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

4 Matthew 9:6
But that you may know that the **Son of man **hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then said **he **to the man sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.

5 Matthew 18:21
Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

6 Matthew 18:35
So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

7 Mark 2:7
Why doth this man speak thus? he blasphemeth. Who can forgive sins, but God only?

8 Mark 2:10
But that you may know that the **Son of man **hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

9 Mark 11:25
And when you shall stand to pray, forgive, if you have aught against any man; that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your sins.

10 Mark 11:26
But if you will not forgive, neither will your Father that is in heaven, forgive you your sins.

11 Luke 5:21
And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

12 Luke 5:24
But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.

13 Luke 6:37
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.

14 Luke 11:4
And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.

15 Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him.

16 Luke 17:4
And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him.

17 Luke 23:34
And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they, dividing his garments, cast lots.

18 John 20:23
Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

19 2 Corinthians 2:7
So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

:bible1:
If we confess our sins,
he
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all iniquity.
20 1 John 1:9
​

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Blessed Lord Jesus+
. . . thank You Gracious Heavenly Father+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . thank you Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+
. . . Sacred Heart of Jesus+
. . . have mercy+
​

 

[Jesus_123]

+Kepha15 . . . I think you have been laboring under a a very real misunderstanding regarding the actual activity/work of the **Holy Spirit **in the Catholic Church’s administration of the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation . . . which is clearly indentified not as the introduction of the **Holy Spirit **into the life of God’s Catholic child . . . but another aspect of the Spirit’s work . . . as explained in the quote from The Catechism of the Catholic Church below . . .

ARTICLE 2
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
**1285 **
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.89 For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a SPECIAL STRENGTH of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."90

. . . all for Jesus+​

 

[zab]

Thank you, Jesus.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

To be forgiven your sins outside of the sacrament of confession requires an act of perfect contrition, which is very rare, I know I have never managed to perform one, you are making the Church irrelevant due to your incomplete understanding of what God has revealed concerning the manner in which He has chosen to bestow the graces of His passion upon mankind.

 

[choy]

yes all baptized Christians have received the initial indwelling of the Holy Spirit by virtue of their baptism.

if i’m not mistaken, even the non-Baptized may receive the Holy Spirit to serve God’s purpose. in the Creed we say about the Holy Spirit, “He has spoken through the prophets.” the prophets were not baptized

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

if i’m not mistaken, even the non-Baptized may receive the Holy Spirit to serve God’s purpose. in the Creed we say about the Holy Spirit, “He has spoken through the prophets.” the prophets were not baptized

God did not act through baptism before He actually instituted it in the New Testament, prior to the introduction of Christianity and baptism God worked through His chosen people the Israelites. Now He works through the baptised.

 

[choy]

God did not act through baptism before He actually instituted it in the New Testament, prior to the introduction of Christianity and baptism God worked through His chosen people the Israelites. Now He works through the baptised.

i don’t believe God is limited by anything. i wouldn’t say acting through the unbaptized would be normal today, but if God so chooses one who is unbaptized then it will happen

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

i don’t believe God is limited by anything. i wouldn’t say acting through the unbaptized would be normal today, but if God so chooses one who is unbaptized then it will happen

I don’t believe God is limited by anything either, however I also believe He always tells the truth so when He says baptism is necessary I believe that baptism is necessary, God could have done things in an infinite number of different ways, however He has chosen this way and told us so.

 

[choy]

I don’t believe God is limited by anything either, however I also believe He always tells the truth so when He says baptism is necessary I believe that baptism is necessary, God could have done things in an infinite number of different ways, however He has chosen this way and told us so.

being in the Church and baptized and confirmed perfects our bond with the Holy Spirit. but that doesn’t mean those who aren’t baptized cannot receive anything that will help serve God’s purpose, or even receive the truth and guide them to the Church. thats all i’m saying

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

being in the Church and baptized and confirmed perfects our bond with the Holy Spirit. but that doesn’t mean those who aren’t baptized cannot receive anything that will help serve God’s purpose, or even receive the truth and guide them to the Church. thats all i’m saying

Well we can both agree to that I think.

 

[Jesus_123]

if i’m not mistaken, even the non-Baptized may receive the Holy Spirit to serve God’s purpose. in the Creed we say about the Holy Spirit, “He has spoken through the prophets.” the prophets were not baptized

+This premise is also upheld in regard to the actions and activities of the God the Holy Spirit in Sacred :bible1: Scripture in the New Testament Book of Acts . . . as noted earlier in puzzlennies post on this thread

Originally Posted by puzzleannie >…
Note further throughout Acts and the other letters whenever Paul and the other apostles encounter Christians who have only received baptism, they immediately confirm them, and when they encounter other Christians who have received the Spirit, they immediately baptized them.

Below is the portion of Sacred :bible1: Scripture confirming this reality as a particular Work of God the Holy Spirit . . .

. . . :coffeeread: . . .
:bible1: 44 While Peter was yet speaking these words,​

the Holy Ghost​

fell on all them that HEARD THE WORD . 45 And the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, **were astonished, for that the GRACE of the **Holy Ghost ****was poured out upon the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. 47 Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days. - Acts 11:44-48

:bible1: 5 Jesus answered: … 8 The Spirit breatheth where he will; and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he cometh, and whither **he **goeth … - John 3:5a, 8
​

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+​

 

[Kepha15]

+Kepha15 . . . I think you have been laboring under a a very real misunderstanding regarding the actual activity/work of the **Holy Spirit **in the Catholic Church’s administration of the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation . . . which is clearly indentified not as the introduction of the **Holy Spirit **into the life of God’s Catholic child . . . but another aspect of the Spirit’s work . . . as explained in the quote from The Catechism of the Catholic Church below . . .

ARTICLE 2
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
**1285 **
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.89 For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a SPECIAL STRENGTH of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."90

. . . all for Jesus+​

I guess here’s the point I’m driving at: If the Holy Spirit is equally available to Protestants and validly confirmed Catholics, A.) What is the point of confirmation, and B.) How do we know the Catholic Church’s doctrines are correct under the guidance of the Spirit, when the Spirit is also guiding Protestant doctrine (supposedly)?

 

[Jesus_123]

+The odd and highly irregular concept of “equality” in regard to the work and activity of God the Holy Spirit in regard to Christian denominations functioning apart from the Catholic Church hasn’t even been approached let alone discussed by those posting responses on this thread . . . there are many and varied operations, ministries and gifts of the **Holy Spirit **completely unavailable to God’s children outside the Catholic Church . . . and there are specific spiritual depths, blessings and graces ordained of God that are only available in the Apostolic Holy Roman Catholic Church . . . among them the Apostolic Succession down through the centuries of our Bishops . . . and that God has singularly blessed the Catholic Church with seven sacraments which are all imparted through the work and actions of the . . . Third Person of the Holy Trinity . . . **the Holy Spirit **. . . Five of those wonderful blessed and incredibly important sacraments can only be imparted by a validly ordained Catholic priest within our Church . . . only the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Marriage can validly occur under select and particular circumstances apart from an officiating validly ordained priest . . .

Along with reading and studying in depth the wonderful . . . Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . if you are really sincere in your desire to learn about and understand the differences between Catholic Christians and non-Catholic Christians . . . perhaps you might begin to regularly watch EWTN’s very intelligent and comprehensive . . . “Journey Home” . . . program . . . watching you will quickly gain an understanding of the weakness and poverty in different given areas of different denominations functioning apart from the completeness, wholeness and rich doctrinal and sacramental fabric of the Apostolic Holy Roman Catholic Church . . . and how God is bringing so very many souls out of these denominations . . . including hundreds upon hundreds of ordained ministers and non-Catholic priests . . . back home and into the fold of our Holy Mother Church . . . that program quickly will bring into focus for you the specifics in regard to faulty and incomplete beliefs of many of the different denominations . . . and why and how the Lord* is graciously bringing home so many of these souls into our Holy Mother Catholic Church . . . *

*God bless . . . *

. . . all for Jesus+​

 

[Kepha15]

Jesus 123,

Thanks for the response. I wholeheartedly agree with you, and should clarify that I am a practicing Catholic as well. I am mostly aware of what our church teaches regarding these things, but I’m a little fuzzy as to why they teach it.

I am currently debating a Protestant who feels that the Holy Spirit in each one of us guides us to the true interpretation of Scripture, and I am trying to find a Biblical reason to give him as to why ONLY Catholic bishops can interpret scripture. He claims that anyone validly baptised in the Holy Spirit is guided to the true interpretation of the Bible, and that Catholic bishops can’t claim any more exclusive right to this interpretation than he can. Does anyone know of any scripture to back up the teaching that only the church has teaching authority?