the name of the particular heresiarch who spawned its existence. Rather,
she is a divine institution which requires the membership of all those who
claim the title of Christian.
Denying the absolute necessity of the Church in the economy of salvation,
Protestantism also denies the visibility of the Church, insisting instead that
it is simply the collection of the “true believers” or “saved” whoever and
wherever they may be. However, the visibility of the Church is implied in
St. Matt. 5:14:“A city built on a hill cannot be hid.” Furthermore, rather
than being only a nebulous collection of “true believers,” Christ established
His Church with a hierarchical authority to govern it (St. Luke 6:13; St.
Matt. 18:17-18), invested it with His own mission (St. John 20:21), the
power to sanctify the faithful (St. John 15:16) and to forgive sins (St. John
20:23), as well as the authority to teach (St. Matt. 28:20) and to baptize (St.
Matt. 28:19).
As head of this visible and hierarchical Church, Christ appointed St. Peter
as His Vicar, or representative:
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (St. Matt. 16:18).
As Vicar and head of the Church on earth, St. Peter is invested with
Christ’s own authority to rule and govern:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven” (St. Matt. 16:18-19).
St. Peter and the Apostles, as rulers of the Church on earth, are to be
obeyed:
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over
your souls, as men who will have to give account” (Heb. 13:17).
To obey St. Peter and the Apostles, and logically their successors, is to
obey Christ:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives
me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me” (St. John 13:20).
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