something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Rom. 4:1–3) Paul says it explicitly, though not using tamim, when he writes that Abraham was “credited” with righteousness—that is, accounted as tamim—by God Almighty. Without the gospel, God’s command to Abraham is an utter impossibility for a wretch like him—or you, or me. In fact, any command without gospel-given grace can never, ever be kept by a sinner,