Can anything in us earn favor with God?
No, nothing in us can merit any favor with God. It is all of His grace, His unmerited favor, because His mercy was poured out on Christ at the cross. We do not deserve any of this, and grace could never have happened without mercy.
Les explains that believers are more than conquerors not because of what they have or any ability in themselves, but because of Christ Jesus, who becomes everything. He stresses that there is nothing in us that can merit any favor with God; it is all of His grace. Les notes that grace could never have happened without mercy, and that mercy was already poured out on Christ at the cross. Since mercy has been poured out, God can now give grace—unmerited favor—which we do not deserve. He also references Paul’s persuasion in verse 38 and moves to Ephesians 6:12 regarding principalities and powers.