What does 1 Thessalonians 5:28 mean?

Paul concludes his first letter to the Thessalonians by expressing his desire that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with his readers. Divine grace is God's unmerited favor. It is grace alone that saves us.

Ephesians 2:8 states plainly, "For by grace you have been saved…" Grace enables us to withstand trials. We stand before God in grace (Romans 5:2). When Paul was undergoing a difficult trial or malady, he prayed that God would remove it, but God did not remove it. However, He assured Paul that His grace was sufficient for him (2 Corinthians 12:8–9). That same all-sufficient grace is available to all who belong to Jesus. Second Timothy 2:1 teaches us that God's grace strengthens us. Titus 2:12–13 credits God's grace with "training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." No wonder Paul wanted his readers to enjoy God's grace!

And so, Paul's first letter to Thessalonians begins with a salutation of grace and ends with a benediction of grace.