As a devout Christian, I do not pose my question as ‘proof’ that Islam is false. I pose it to encourage discussion so that the truth be known. The Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:16) and that He loves all people (Matt. 5:43-48; John 3:16). The Qur’ān never says that ‘God is love’. In fact, the Qur’ān says that Allah does not love the unbelievers (2:98; 3:32) and at various places says that Allah is full of wrath for them and also causes war and bloodshed.
I do agree with you when you say that the quest for truth must continue, and so followers of various religions should engage in positive dialogue with one another. I do believe that salvation does not come within the purview of the so-called ‘nomenclature’; rather, it will be for those who will meet their God after a sincere journey of seeking the truth and doing right. And who are sincere in their quest, God knows best.
Anyhow, as I understand, the gist of your query is that God is love and mankind has been bestowed with this love in the guise of Jesus (sws). And, for definite salvation we must have faith in the great sacrifice of God in flesh. Because, He is, Who loves all mankind without any distinction.
Dear Brother, Do you want to say that your God equally loves the sincere and the cunning, the innocent and the wicked, the noble and the cruel, the pious and the rogue, the murderer and the meritorious, the believer and the non-believer? I am afraid, this is not the true side of the picture. You find in the Qur’ān – the latest version of God’s message – that God does not love the non-believers. This should neither be a surprise nor be treated as strange, because the previous versions of God’s message, including the Bible contain the same words. And the authenticity of all such transmissions lies in the fact that God is One Who shall administer justice in its absolute form. My brother, when each and every person will stand before the Almighty with a complete and all-encompassing, exhaustive record of his deeds, how can one perceive equal treatment for all?
Here, I would like to quote some passages from the Bible in support of my humble premise, and you will appreciate that Jesus (sws) himself had claimed that he had not come to revoke the Old testament but to complete it.
If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy, 8:19-20)
If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, and contrary to my command has worshipped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky, and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5)
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
Jesus answered Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no But unless you repent, you too will perish. (Luke, 13:1-4)
Perhaps the correct view in this regard is that the Almighty is just and equitable in all circumstances. Love and war are two manifestations of His justice.