[JohnnyM]

but the prodigal son never lost his sonship. Never lost his place in the family. Sin can separate us from communion with God and we need to be restored through forgiveness, like the prodigal son did with his father, but he never lost his place as his son, as his child.

JM

[SoothingDave]

but the prodigal son never lost his sonship. Never lost his place in the family. Sin can separate us from communion with God and we need to be restored through forgiveness, like the prodigal son did with his father, but he never lost his place as his son, as his child.

We don't know that. Not at all. Had the son not returned in repentence we simply do not know what the father would have done. And had the father died, would the other brothers have gone looking for the lost one in order to share the inheiritance?

SD