A true Christian is one who has been born again:
John 3:3 : In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
A true Christian is one who has put his faith in the one true Jesus Christ our Lord:
Eph 2:8-9 : 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
John 1:12 : 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
There are tons of verses that could be used to answer this question, so this is just a start.
The Scriptures do not tell us that "true Christians" will ALWAYS be brought back. There is no such verse.
There may be none that you recognize, but they are surely there:
John 10:27-29 : 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
Phil 1:6 : 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
According to this if we are not brought back, then God is a failure and did not complete His good work.
Are there any verses that discuss "true Christians" vs the ones who fall away and were "never true Christians to begin with"?
Sure:
Matt 7:21-23 : 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord ,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord , did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
From the beginning we know that some who profess faith and say "Lord, Lord" will go to Heaven and some will not. To the latter, Jesus says "I NEVER knew you". Therefore, they could never have been true believers.
Amen, FK!
So is this "true" Christian guaranteed not to fall away, EVER? And how do you know you are "born again", since you do not consider Baptism any purpose besides some sort of ritual?
There may be none that you recognize, but they are surely there:
John 10:27-29
Phil 1:6
You sure hang you hat on these two verses, because they are quoted so often as your "proof". Unfortunately, they do not apply from our point of view, but God's. The latter one, esp., does not prove that this "work" refers to eternal salvation.
From the beginning we know that some who profess faith and say "Lord, Lord" will go to Heaven and some will not. To the latter, Jesus says "I NEVER knew you". Therefore, they could never have been true believers.
LOL! The only problem, again, is that the "Christian" who never was THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE!
What happens, then, when the "self-proclaimed elect" enters into the company of Christ in heaven and He says "I never knew you to begin with"? Thus, even in your theological scheme, salvation into heaven is not guaranteed, no matter how much you wish and wish and wish for it to be true.
Regards