Why was God able to pour out mercy on mankind even though we don't deserve it?
God was able to pour out mercy because of His grace, His unmerited favor. Grace is the divine attribute that makes mercy possible; without it, undeserving mankind could only face wrath and judgment. Since grace is freely given and not earned, it opens the way for God to show mercy rather than judgment.
Les explains that grace is God's unmerited favor, and this attribute is what makes the pouring out of His mercy possible. He notes that if it were not for God's grace, He could never have poured out mercy on mankind, because we don't deserve it. Because grace is unmerited favor, God was able to pour out mercy. Les says he will teach in every tense that it is the grace of God that makes it possible for Him to show mercy rather than wrath and judgment.