In the first 18 verses of John, constituting the prologue to his gospel and summarising the reasons for (and the world's response to) Christ's incarnation – the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us – there is no mention of sin or the need for repentance.

John speaks of the coming of supernatural life, of light overcoming darkness, and of a light that would enlighten every person and promise that all who believed in his name and received him into their hearts would be born again into God's family. He speaks of the glory and wonder of Jesus: full of grace and truth, and that from the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. He says, though no one has ever seen God, Jesus came to reveal to us God's essential being; what his heart is truly like.

There is no mention of the sinfulness of sin; of our guilt and depravity. John will by no means avoid the problem of sin, but it is as though he were saying: "We will get to that. It is not for now. Be convinced first of the wonders of Jesus becoming one with us, of identifying himself with us and taking on our humanity. Consider him who is full of grace and truth. Believe in him. Trust in him. Receive him just as you are and he will make you a new creation."

Jesus was known as the friend of sinners and he didn't make repentance, confession of sinfulness or a change in lifestyle the conditions for his friendship and love. Neither should we. God is love. It is at the very centre of his identity. It is his very essence. Judging is somethings he does reluctantly. "He doesn't willingly bring affliction on the children of men" (Lam. 3:33).

He is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3). He is infinitely rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4). Both the Father and the Son want each person to understand and experience a measure of their love for them before the Holy Spirit gently and carefully brings conviction of sin and the need for repentance. That is his job not ours. We are called to love unconditionally all people of every ethnicity and in whatever state they might be. I know I was born again when I was 8. Jesus has confirmed that to me. But I only began to understand sin and repentance when I was 19 and the Spirit's work in me from then on has always been gentle, gracious and life imparting.