What is the grace of God beyond the definition of unmerited favor?
Beyond unmerited favor, the grace of God is that attribute of God which reaches down to a fallen, condemned sinner who realizes he can do nothing, and saves him on the basis of believing the gospel plus nothing. It is also what places the believer outside the law's dominion, so the old Adamic nature no longer has reigning control.
Les explains that few people comprehend the grace of God. Most understand the definition—unmerited favor—but stop there. In Romans 6:14, Paul says sin, meaning the old Adamic nature we are born with, shall not have dominion or control over the believer, because the believer is not under law but under grace. Les notes that this old sin nature shows itself as soon as a child can, even in innocency. But grace is the attribute of God that can take a person who realizes he is nothing more than a fallen creature, under sin and condemnation, with nothing he can do. God's grace reaches down and saves him on the basis of believing the gospel plus nothing.