Dear JMJ
Does anyone, even you or the Gospels know the truth and whole truth? I think not. The historical Jesus and the Mythical Jesus have become so convoluted, the truth is no one knows all the facts for sure for insufficient evidence, or information heard from others, or in modern times known as hearsay, generally not admissible for evidence.
Those going with blind faith and unwilling to look at the limited facts that can or have been documented often run ignorant of many factual events.
The Christian God is the Jewish God.
Both religions are based on monotheistic beliefs.
Some pray directly to God. Some to or through Jesus.
And your comments Jews are cut off; From what?
Do you really believe that those who worship God the same way Jesus did will be cut off from anything? Or that God only loves people who believe Jesus is Christ?
By saying Christians owe "nothing" to the Jews but the truth; The truth is there is much debate about the whole truth.
And Chistians,if truly Christian in the name of Jesus, owe Judaism respect. Not the disrespect propagated through much of the new testament. Else they disrespect Jesus as he was a Jew. And that would be disrespecting your own God and his people.
I feel lucky to have grown up in a "neighborhood" that was primarily Jewish and Roman Catholic and near a city hosting many of our world's religions. I despise bigotry. It is one of the largest roots of evil, terror and war in our international society. In general, I judge people by their respect for others, ethical beliefs and morals, and firmly believe it is wrong for any one group to impose their beliefs on other groups and even more so, those who become intolerant of different people by interfering in their lives through evangelizing.
What is sad is that many Christians are taught to "believe what they are told" rather than to "think for themselves". Anyone who is open minded and can think and not a bigot can see there are many different religions in our world and that that within specific religions there are many different conflicting beliefs. And many of those beliefs are mutually exclusive. So do you really believe God will "cut off"
non-Christians?
According to respected sources as the World Christian Encyclopedia as well as national self reported surveys as collected by major census organizations, approximately two thirds of the world population do not follow the Christian religion. Yet many have led fulfilling ethical lives contributing to society. Will all those people be cut off too?
The main points are living an ethically moral life and accepting people no matter where they come from or what their religious beliefs are.
It is unfortunate that religions have been used by political leaders to divide and conquer nations. Much by the propagation of misleading information. If you want to believe such things as "In rejecting Christ, they are cut off", then you are free to. Keep in mind there are many who believe in Jesus in the Christian sense yet they violate the ten commandments and subsequent bodies of law designed to promote morals and good will and yet ask for forgiveness rather than accepting responsibility for their own behaviors.
Just think of this too:
Jews are of the same blood as Jesus.
Many Christians are not.
Jews mainly practice their religion as did Jesus.
Many of the practices within Christianity are taken directly from Judaic practices, although many of those practices have been disguised as Christian practices with the attempt to rewrite the bible as separate from Judaism.
Most historical sources indicate:
Jesus worshiped as Jew, not as a Christian.
In other words, Jesus worshiped as a Jew studying the law of Moses and Torah and more.
He used the Jewish bible and also preached the same.
Many Christian houses of worship do not teach the Judaic roots of Christianity and as such I see many Christians who don't have a clue to the historical roots or their own religion or the real basis for many rituals in the Christian religion.
The Christian bible is full of conflicting verses and can be misleading as it omits many issues which have led to Christians blaming the Jews rather than the Romans for many of the events that took place under Roman Rule and Roman Law.
In fact, I find your two following comments contradictory in itself: "No real Christian can possibly maintain that someone who rejects Christ nevertheless retains the favor of God." In other words, people who see Jesus as a Rabbi/Teacher and Prophet but not God reincarnated do not retain the favor of God, followed by your citing the commandment Love your neighbor as yourself.
All people on this earth are God's children and if you wish to believe that God discriminates against his children for having different beliefs than you've subscribed to the same bigotry that leaders have propagated to divide and conquer nations by the misuse of religion.
I would recommend that all Christians read some books on Christianity and its Judaic roots, of course from respected and validated sources, as it will help you better understand the Christian religion and also lessen the perceived gap between Christianity and other non-Christian Monotheistic religions.