# First Hevetic Confession
Article 15 - Of the Church
The church is the holy assembly of all the saints and the spotless bride of Christ, whom Christ washes and purifies with his blood, and finally establishes and delivers her to her Father without spot or wrinkle, and together such stones are built upon the living rock.

Although this church is known only to the eyes of God, yet by certain external rites, instituted by Christ himself, and by the Word of God as a public and legitimate discipline, it is not only seen and known, but is so established that no one (except by God’s singular privilege) is considered to be in it without them.

[Matthew 16](/get-passage/Matthew+16); [Matthew 28](/get-passage/Matthew+28); [Mark 16](/get-passage/Mark+16); [Acts 10](/get-passage/Acts+10); [Ephesians 5](/get-passage/Ephesians+5); [1 Peter 2](/get-passage/1+Peter+2).