And what was this separation ? Was He no longer a son ? Does lost and dead mean equivalent to losing his salvation ? I see this as the son separated himself from the relationship he once had as father and son. He was what we might call 'backslidden' or a wandering sheep. In the Revelation Jesus is pictured as standing at the door and knocking. The text is speaking to a Christian. The relationship is dead, as it is not alive at that time. But when we repent, which means to turn, as the son came to his senses and returned home or when we open the door of our heart to renew that relationship, Jesus is there to restore it.Wade wrote: While the son was living to his own will he was lost and dead. It was never that the father didn't love him, it was rather the sons acts of disobedience is what separated himself from the father.
Some here likely would say this prodigal son, or a backslider, has lost his salvation by wandering off for a period to do his thing. A period of disobedience. And what did this disobedience teach him through sufferings ? That there are consequences in disobeying. But the son still knew he was in the family. He had gone the route of learning to obey the hard way.
This was my own experience. I never lost my belief in Jesus and knew He was standing at the door of my heart ready to renew relationship. To me, it was like Jesus saying 'Are you through yet, have you learned why obedience is the right path ?' When I turned for home, I experienced what the prodigal son experienced. Regardless of my unloving treatment of my father and family, God still loved me, came running to meet me and welcomed me back with open arms restoring that father and son relationship.
So this might sound like I believe once a son always a son or OSAS. No, I also think I could have turned my back on God completely and as it were, totally rejected ever being a son. Changed my identity and not wanting any more association with God. Then, I believe, God would give me what I choose.
Basically again the issue is can we disobey enough as a believer to forfeit our salvation ? Is there some unspecified level of obedience/works required to remain saved ? Some say yes and don't know just where that point of disobedience is reached. I believe only apostasy or what is called 'blasphemy against the Holy Spirit' is the only unpardonable sin. Specifically, how that is reached in one's heart, God knows.