Let us explain the key terms in this verse.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins”:
The Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died once for sins. His sacrifice was a single, completed act and never needs to be repeated. It was fully sufficient to deal with sin forever.
“The just for the unjust”:
The Lord Jesus Christ was perfectly righteous; He never sinned, and no sin was found in Him. We, however, are sinful and unrighteous. Christ suffered in our place—the innocent bore the punishment that the guilty deserved. The holy One died so that sinners might be forgiven.
“That He might bring us to God”:
Sin separates humanity from God. By bearing our sins on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ removed that barrier and reconciled us to God. We do not come to God by our own goodness or efforts; only the Lord Jesus Christ brings us to God, and this is received through faith in Him.
“Being put to death in the flesh”:
The Lord Jesus Christ truly died a real, physical death on the cross. His suffering was not symbolic or imaginary—it was real and painful. Yet His death was also fruitful, accomplishing eternal salvation for all who believe.
“But quickened by the Spirit”:
Though His body died, the Lord Jesus Christ was made alive again by the power of God’s Spirit. This points to His bodily resurrection and demonstrates that death did not defeat Him. He triumphed over death, hell, and all the powers of evil.
In summary, Jesus Christ, who was completely innocent, willingly suffered and died once for sins. He did this to bring us to God. Though He died physically, He was raised to life again by the Spirit, proving His complete victory over sin and death.