Here is the verse:
John 3:15-18
New International Version
15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
This verse is not in any way, shape or form written in the definitive. It is rather general in nature, it is your theology blinders that is not letting you see this simple truth. You see these verses as explicit and all encompassing because you need them to be but it is far from it.
Yes lets look at the conversation
1. Jesus said, unless you are born again, you will not see the kingdom of God.
2. Nicodemus asks, How can these things Be.
3. jesus answer.
1.
Like moses lifted the serpent, so too must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes will not perish, but have eternal life. for God so loved the world. that whoever believes will not perish but has eternal life. He who believes is not condemned, He who does not believe is condemned already
2. The context is being born again, why must we be born again, Because we are dead. that is a definitive fact.
3. The promise is to who? The world. For God so loved the world.. everyone - That is definitive, why? Everyone in the world is dead.
4. Who are the beneficiaries (who is born again or made alive?) whoever..
a. Whoever places their FAITH in Jesus. this is definitive..
b. Whoever places their faith - This is definitive - its not a suggestion, it is a command.
c. He who believes, as apposed to he who does nto believe - again, this is definitive,
5. What do they receive.
a. They will never perish - this is not a suggestion, it is not something that may happen, Jesus said this is a fact. it is definitive, they will never die
b. They have eternal life, ie, they will live forever, it is no something that might happen, it will happen, it is definitive. it is all based on the promise of God.
6. the other definitive thing, is that nothing else is involved. I am not made alive because I was water baptized or did any other work. I will not live forever because I was water baptized or did any other work this is also a definitive statement.
So you are wrong in your assumption and statement