To Dianne and all the Doves,
 
       In response to your post http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/nov2004/diannet1120-1.htm , I would like to say that I spent over four years studying the Hebraic roots of our faith. I have also done Kay Arthur's extensive bible study on "Covenant" .
 
     You miss the point altogether of what I was trying to say. Baptism does not save us, whether one is baptised as an infant or later on in life. What baptism is- is an outward sign of the covenant that we have entered into with Yeshua.
 
  "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."  John 1:12
 
  Now obviously, a five day old child does not have the "ability" to "receive" Jesus. Yet, I was baptised in the Catholic church on Christmas day, just five days after I was born.  Upon leaving the church as a young adult, my husband and I were then sprinkled in the United Methodist church. I was still lost as lost could be. Did I believe in Jesus? Yes, in my head. But it is a heart response that God wants.
 
  Finally, after being convicted of my sin at age 29, and praying with Sheila Walsh the sinner's prayer, I felt the urgency of the Holy Spirit, to be baptised by immersion, thus identifying with Yeshua's death, burial and resurrection. Only in this baptism, did I experience a great spiritual battle, because identifying with Yeshua's death, burial, and resurrection by faith has great meaning and power.
 
  I am not confused in the matter of "putting a fence around the fence", nor am I advocating the works of the Law. Quite the contrary, it is works that compel a family to have their infant baptised, as they do not trust God to deal individually with that soul as they grow up.
 
  Nor is using the argument  - that to refute infant baptism, one is "messing" with one of God's little ones.
 
 

I believe it is perfectly fine to dedicate an infant to the Lord. After all, Abraham offered up Isaac as an example to us.
 
  You asked me,Please, I'm just asking, how much of your studies are of the Jewish
culture/religious practices at the time Yeshua walked the earth?
 
  You must be confused in asking me this, because I used Yeshua' s example of being baptised as an adult in my post as being our guide. How much more Jewish "culture/religious" practices can you get than to see what He did?
 
  Furthermore, I am not angry with anyone. My computer is old (and just as it is now, my "bold" button is sticking). But also, I use BOLD and COlORS frequently to emphasize a point and make it easier on us "old" folks to read. That is just my practice.
 
  However, it does concern me, that there are those who love Jesus, but "lulled" into believing that they are "saved" because of a decision that was made for them by a parent back in their infancy. This is deception and constitutes more fully (imo) leading a little one astray. 
 
 Mary