Delayed judgment Vindicated

I. The cross event was a declaration: note the double mention of "declare."
The cross event was of course more than a declaration, but the declarative emphasis is major in this passage.

II. The cross event vindicated God's delayed judgment of past sins. "Vindicate" means to clear from blame or suspicion. This passage actually "rescues the righteous character of God from a fatal misunderstanding. This misunderstanding is actually as common as dandilions in the meadow.