both ways of reading the text would be true.
How can the number 1 be "1" and "NOT 1" at the same time?
The Jєω who does not have his spiritual eyes opened by God the Holy Spirit so that he can see Christ revealed in the Scriptures is as in the dark as a blind man at midnight. Ditto for anyone else on earth.
The absolute garbage of 'Jєωs can read their half of Sacred Scripture, repudiate Christ and refuse to acknowledge Him and still be right with God' is not only sickening, it is infuriating.
"Whosoever denies Me before men, the same will I deny before My Father."
Sound familiar?
Acknowledge Christ --> Join His Church --> Receive His Sacraments --> persevere in faith --> die in grace --> receive eternal life.
DENY Christ --> do whatever else you want --> die a 'good person', yet still an infidel --> SPEND AN ETERNITY IN HELL.
Plain and simple, and not a single other source but Sacred Scripture is needed to make the case.
Add the testimony of the Magisterium of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and the case is doubly closed.
All the modernist/liberal ecuмenical whining from these heretics notwithstanding, those who do not profess Christ and flee to the security of His Church are in danger of Hell.