Along with the five foolish virgins, the Scriptures tell us about another incidence of actual “falling from grace.” However, unlike the tragic outcome of the virgins’ apostasy, this story has a positive ending. The world knows the young man in this story as the “prodigal son.”

We are not told how old this man was when he chose to leave his secure, love-filled world behind in order to explore the world that lay outside it. He was probably in his mid or late 20’s. We are told nothing about his life before his decision to leave the family sheep ranching business. There is no indication of trouble between himself and his father. In all probability he had been obedient to the family patriarch as had his brother. But then Satan infiltrated his heart (mind) and turned him inward, making him self-centered and resistant to his father’s will and ways. Having given in to the devil’s temptations, the prodigal “fell from grace.” We all know the story so it will not be repeated here. One of the facts we need to understand is that the prodigal, having been sired (“begotten”) by the father, never ceased to be his father’s son. During the time of his estrangement from the father, that physical and emotional relationship had not been affected. Another fact that needs to be noted is that, though the father never ceased loving his son, he did not go after him to try to persuade him to return home. The prodigal had to decide on his own whether to continue on the path he was on and die, or to return to his father and live. Though the son had KNOWN his father and had been KNOWN by his father, had he not had a change of heart he would have died as he had chosen to live–separated from his father. Wisely, he acknowledged his fallen condition, repented of it and returned home where he was welcomed with open arms.

The five foolish virgins (Christians), having KNOWN  and having been KNOWN by the Bridegroom (Jesus), had likewise “fallen from grace.” But unlike the prodigal son, they did not repent of their sins and return to the right path. They simply “religioned up” when they heard of His arrival, believing that their last minute flurry of obedience would return them to His good graces. They were wrong.

In summary, people in the Institutional Church have never KNOWN the Father and have never been KNOWN by Him. Having assumed His name but having rejected His rules of relationship, they are His children in name only. Though zealous and religious, they have never known what God-defined sin is and have therefore never confessed their God-defined sins. Having never repented of true sin they have never received forgiveness by way of His grace. Having never been in His grace they cannot not fall from it. Unlike Catholic and Protestant parishioners, saints in God’s true church have KNOWN the Lord and have been KNOWN by Him. Having been in His grace they are capable of  falling from it. L.J.