God does not simply dismiss death. Instead, He actually takes it upon Himself and into Himself. He ingests, digests, and passes death so we might be spared from even tasting it.
It was the death of David’s greater son who would die for his sin and our sin in order that we might know the mercy of God to cover all our sin and sour grapes.
Paul had no credit because the Law could not atone for his sin. It could not render him positively righteous before the face of God, even though it gave him boasting rights before the Law.