While there are several outstanding examples of severe judgment upon sinful men in

the O.T., such as the flood, and the destruction of Sodom, the general character of Gentile

times is indicated in Acts 17: 30:--

"The forbearance of God" in passing over sins of the past must ever be interpreted in

the light of His purpose concerning the atoning sacrifice of Christ. That justifies all His

dealings with sinful men. Apart from that foreseen offering it appears doubtful whether a

holy God would have been justified in continuing to provide for the life and sustenance

of guilty men.  Nations who never heard of Christ received the bounteous gifts of

providence only because He was the coming One. Nothing but the fact of Christ's death

saves the ungodly from immediate judgment. Quite apart from faith or knowledge, all

creation owes all that it enjoys to the sacrifice of Christ.

A slight variation in the wording of the expression "to declare" in verses 25 and 26

calls for a moment's attention.

The difference in the two expressions is that eis looks to the ultimate goal, while pros

is more immediately concerned with the manifestation of God's righteousness "at this

time".  Seeing that it was the intention of God that in the provision of gospel

righteousness His own personal righteousness should not only be understood but publicly

exhibited, let us who speak in His name ever maintain this truth.

God could, so to speak, have saved men without the agony and death of Christ, but

His righteousness would have been impaired, which is impossible. Love provided the

ransom, but righteousness saw to it that the ransom was paid--not only that a

righteousness might be provided for the guilty sinner, but