Amen! And here is why it matters...
Sinner--->Saved--->Sinner---->Saved.
Repentance matters. It's not just a one-time thing.
Ok confused.
Sinner saved sinner saved.
That suggests sinner saved but then not but then they are based on your next line repentance matters it's just not a one-time thing.
So you know my doctinal belief concerning salvation.
So here are my views based on your above quote.
Repentance is a one time thing.
John 16:8-9
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
The sin being unbelief in Jesus and as a result
Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..
It's not just to confession but the raising from the dead and THE LORD JESUS.
As a result
Romans 5:1-2
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 1:5
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Adopted by God as his children.
A one time even based the above verses.
Now as children of God when we sin we confess our sin. That's not repentance. The meaning of repentance and confession have totally different meanings.
To confess is to agree you screwed up. It's a reconciliation as such, restore the relationship. It's not repentance. The first thing the prodical son did was to confess his sin. Peeing it up against the wall and all that.
The prodical does not need to repent because he has not lost faith in Jesus. Like a dumb sheep he has gone astray, the sheep that Jesus goes after.
Now one has to ask the question, would he go after the sheep? Would he go after the person who has not truly repented of the sin of unbelief?
Not so sure. After all the Holy Spirit came to convict the world of its sin.
I know the parable of the prodigal son has to do with sinners and those who considered themselves righteous aka Pharisees and teachers of law.
But for me this was pre cross and when Jesus rose again it is different. It's not the law saves us but Jesus.
I know we will not agree with each other as many theologians haven't over the last 2000 years and will do until Jesus comes back.
But for me we always need to encourage people to seek Jesus and be like him.
Never reject someone who seems to be not like Jesus, just dig in and ask what is going on their lives.
In the 36 years of being a believer only twice have I ever had to leave them alone.
The first one fell foul of Romans 5-6. Using grace as a license to sin. I quoted the verses and they rejected it. I asked them why they were doing it because believe it or not it is not unusual people to indulge in sexual sin as a result of past experiences, hurt pain wanting to be loved and accepted.
The second one wanted to be baptized but I want sure he was a genuine beliver so I quoted the 10 verse and asked them if they believed that. He said no, asked him if he wanted to he said no. Sorry mate but I cannot Baptise you but please keep spending time together. Never saw him again.