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FOUNDATIONS*61**overlap* between* the* doctrine* of* the* church,* worship* and* evangelism,*because*the*preaching*of*the*gospel*in*and*through*the*church*is*the*Triune*God’s*primary*means*of*extending*grace*to*a*fallen*world.**A*general*proposition*to*be*addressed*first*is*the*necessity*to*recapture*what*is*placed*at*the*very*heart*of*baptism,*as*ordained*by*the*Lord*Jesus*Christ.*The*proposition*is*that*the*new*covenant*name*of*God*–*the*Father,*and*the*Son,*and*the*Holy*Spirit*–*be*placed*upon*people*at*baptism*as*a*new*step*for*the*NT*people*of*God*(Matt*28:19).*Letham*presents*the*view*that*the* Triune* God* unfolds* revelation* of* himself* progressively* and* that* this*name,* linked* with* the* new* covenant* sacrament* of* baptism,* is* “God’s*crowning*revelation*of*himself*–*all*that*went*before*points*to*this”. 40 **However,*the*Triune*name*should*not*be*restricted*to*a*baptismal*liturgy*only.*Baptism*into*that*name*may*be*an*entrance*point*to*the*new*covenant*community*but*not*an*end*point.*It*should*be*a*thread*woven*throughout*the*fabric*of*the*church’s*theology,*worship,*preaching,*sacraments*and*mission.*This*name*should*continue*as*a*focal*point*throughout*the*whole*process*of*new* covenant* discipleship* according* to* Matt* 28:18:20.* The* new* covenant*commission* recorded* by* Matthew* marks* a* new* plan* for* the* gospel,* where*the*geography*is*extended*and*the*knowledge*of*God*is*expanded.**This*Trinitarian*motif*for*discipleship*is*found*throughout*Paul’s*epistles*and*most*notably*in*his*Letter*to*the*Ephesians.*A*recovery*of*this*motif*for*the* twenty* first* century* church* in* the* West,* could* potentially* answer* the*post:modern* challenge* regarding* the* church’s* evangelistic* battle* with*religious* pluralism.* The* Triune* God* of* the* church* is* unique.* This* could*embolden*the*church’s*evangelism*in*a*multicultural*world*that*is*filled*with*the* claims* of* many* religions* for* the* uniqueness* of* their* god.* Velli:Matti*Kärkkäinen*concisely*sums*up*the*Western*world*as*“an*individualistic,*post:modern* cacophony* of* differing* voices* and* pluralism”. 41 *Perhaps* if* church*members* were* equipped* with* the* doctrine* of* the* Trinity* and* if* the* new*covenant* name* of* God* were* to* be* interwoven* into* public* worship* more*extensively,*a*range*of*apologetic*issues*could*be*handled*at*the*same*time*to*equip*the*saints*in*their*day:to:day*evangelism.**The* first* particular* proposition* is* for* the* recovery* of* a* covenantal*approach* to* baptism,* which* includes* baptising* the* children* of* Christian*parents.*It*has*been*demonstrated*that*the*explication*of*baptism*found*in*the*Westminster*Standards*embraces*a*covenantal*framework*that*is*faithful*to* Scripture* but* that* it* also* has* a* doctrine* of* the* family* inextricably*interwoven*in*it.*It*is*hard*to*contemplate*how*any*other*version*of*baptism*can* adequately* balance* the* inter:connected* scheme* of* “command–sign–********************************************************************40*Robert*Letham,*The!Holy!Trinity:!In!Scripture,!History,!Theology,!and!Worship*(Phillipsburg:*Presbyterian*&*Reformed,*2004),*411:12.*41*Velli:Matti,* Kärkkäinen,* An! Introduction! to! Ecclesiology:! Ecumenical,! Historical! &! Global!Perspectives*(Downers*Grove:*IVP,*2002),*7.*!

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