The Gospel and the Prodigal Son

At which point does the Prodigal Son become a Son?

All of my life I have heard the Gospel represented as a transaction where we pray a prayer and become a child of God, saved from Hell to go to Heaven when we die in; and for most of my life I accepted that representation but always felt something was off about it.

As a parent, I have never said unless you acknowledge me as your father and do whatever I say… I will disown you and banish you from my presence forever… For those with ears to hear