I will be continuing on in the series that I started and this one is 'Part 2: Water Baptism'. Entitled "Catholicism and Christianity! Are they the same or are they totally different?"
I am using their bible, Douay Version to show that even their own book condemns them even though it is not the word of God. Check "Bible Perversions" on my Page also.

Water Baptism

Catholicism says that you are saved by water baptism and by keeping the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Quoting from 'The Documents of Vatican II', pg. 20:
"In that body, the life of Christ is poured into the believers, who, through the sacraments, are united in a hidden and a real way to Christ who suffered and was glorified. Through baptism we are formed in the likeness of Christ: 'For in one Spirit we are all baptized into one body' (I Cor. 12:13). In this sacred rite, a union with Christ's death and resurrection is both symbolized and brought about: 'For we were buried with Him by means of baptism into death.' And if 'we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be so in the likeness of his resurrection also' (Rom. 6:4-5)." Also in 'A Catechism For Adults' by Rev. William J. Cogan, in 'Lesson 19: The Sacrament of Baptism',
"1. What is Baptism?
(answer) It is the sacrament of spiritual rebirth in which we receive a share of the divine life which makes us children of God and heirs of heaven.
2. What does Baptism do for us?
(answers) a) It cleanses us from Original Sin, from all personal sins, and from the temporal punishment due to sin.
b) it makes us holy with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially with the gift of grace.
c) It makes us living members of His Body which is the Church
d) It brings us into spiritual contact with the saving death and resurrection of Jesus [Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:4]
e) It gives us a right and a duty to share in the work of Christ the priest, Christ the Teacher, and Christ the King.
3. Why do you have to be baptized?
(answer) Baptism is your rebirth into the life of grace, without grace you simply do not have the power to live in heaven.
'Unless a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' [John 3:5]"

Christianity says that you are saved through the shed blood of Jesus and nothing else. It's the free gift of God, entirely free. Ephesians Chapter 1 verse 7 says,
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
(Remission means forgiveness plus, we have forgiveness of sins and he blots them out because of his shed blood on the cross for us.)

Then the Roman Catholic leaders go so far as to change the meaning of 'grace' which is 'God's unmerited favor' towards us but in the same catechism book that I have been quoting from on page 25,
Lesson 8:Grace; question 4 says:
"4. What, then, is needed to share in God's happiness?
(answer) A new kind of life called grace.
"5. What is grace?
(answer) A sharing in the life of God, which raises you to God's level and gives you the power to share in His happiness.

"He has granted us the very great and precious promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature" [2 Peter 1:4]
"6. Does grace make you the same as God? (answer) No, but it makes us new creatures, like to God, His adopted children, living on a level above merely human life and equipped to live with God in heaven.
Grace does not change us into God, because it is only a created share in His life and nature." But at the end of this chapter under the title PRACTICAL POINTS, quoting:
"3. Though it is not correct to say that grace makes us the same as God, the great St. Augustine did not hesitate to say when speaking of Jesus and our gift of grace: 'God became man that men might become gods.'"

And as I read and study the word, I see that there is only one who is trying to make gods and that is Satan and all the so-called gods that he makes will wind up in the same place that he will and that is hell. God says, "You are my witnesses saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me and understand that I myself am. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there shall be none." Isaiah Chapter 43 verse 10

Going back to 'The Documents of Vatican II'; Chapter II, The People of God' under #14 on pages 32,33; "This sacred synod turns its attention first to the Catholic faithful. Basing itself upon sacred Scripture and tradition, it teaches that the Church, now sojourning on earth as an exile, is necessary for salvation. For Christ, made present in His Body, which is the Church, is the one Mediator and the unique Way of salvation. In explicit terms He Himself affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mk.16:16; Jn.3:5) and thereby affirmed also the necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by God through Jesus Christ, would refuse to enter her or remain in her could not be saved." (Bolded emphasis mine)

Now let's discuss the verses used above and see if they teach water baptism saves. And we will also see if the Roman Catholic Church was made necessary by God through Jesus Christ for salvation and if those who refuse to enter her or stay in her could not be saved. Going to John Chapter 3 verse 5,

"Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

The Catholic writers corrupted this text to fit their theology, their tradition. They added the word 'again' to that verse which changes the meaning entirely and it isn't in the greek manuscripts. Jesus reproved the Jews for making the word of God of none effect by their tradition but at least they didn't change the word of God to fit their tradition like the Roman Catholic Church is doing. The Catholic Church leaders have some heavy judgment coming from the hand of God. If we read this particular verse in context, we will see that Jesus and Nicodemus are speaking of physical birth (born of water) and spiritual birth (born of the Spirit). Going back to verse 4, quoting: "Nicodemus saith to him: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born again? Also in verse 6, quoting: "That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit, is spirit." So we see from reading both sides of verse 5 that physical birth is being compared with spiritual birth.

Commenting on St. Mark, Chapter 16, verse 16 that was also used by the Catholic Church in reference to water baptism saving which says: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: and he that believeth not shall be condemned." By reading this verse in context here and cross-referencing it with many other Scriptures, you will see that salvation is based on believing just as you can see here that those who do not believe will be condemned.

I would like to go to just some of those Scriptures: St. John Chapter 3 verse 16,
"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but have everlasting life."
To The Romans, Chapter 4, verses 5,6; which says: "Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace but according to debt. But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
COMMENT: This verse is quoted out of the Douay Version which is poorly done in many places but the footnote is even worse. Also keep in mind the true definition for 'grace' as we saw earlier. Remember the thief on the cross, he was saved by the grace of God through exercising faith in Jesus just as all who come to him are. It truly is a free gift.

Ephesians 2:8,9, "For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God: Not of works that no man may glory."
COMMENT: Keeping in mind when reading this verse that a gift is entirely free if is truly a gift and if you do anything to earn that gift then it is not a gift. All through the word we see that salvation is a free gift to whosoever will trust him and to those who trust in any type of work to be saved aren't trusting in his finished work.

Now I would like to quote out of another Roman Catholic book entitled 'The Question Box' and on page 245 under the sub-title, 'The Efficacy of Baptism'. The question says, "Is not Baptism a mere external ceremony of initiation into the Christian fellowship? No, this is a logical inference from the false Reformation doctrines of reputed righteousness and justification by faith alone, which the Council of Trent condemned (Sess. vi., De Just.)."

I think that statement sums it up to clearly show that the same Roman Catholic Church that the Reformers protested against is still within our midst and now many Christians tend to think that Roman Catholics are just another Christian group. What has happened to a true trust in God and his holy word. Remember Jesus died for the Roman Catholics just like he did for everyone else. But we must come to him for eternal life, to him alone not to him plus baptism, doing the Sacraments, or anything else. Do you really want a church with teaching put together by men or one brought about by God and his word? You decide but now you have some of the facts so that you can make a wiser decision. Also if you are a Christian and you have some Roman Catholic friends then reach out to them with truth, it'll set them free.