Did the original disciples of Jesus believe that he [Jesus] was the ultimate sin-sacrifice? No! This was a Pauline invention. Why? Two reasons: First, we know the original disciples remained devout Jews and adhered to the Law (a bone of contention between Paul and the Disciples)--this would include observing one of the most important Jewish holidays: Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This solemn holiday is dedicated to the forgiveness of sins. So why would the Disciples observe it if Jesus had already paid the price for our sins? Second, we have Paul's own words.
Paul ...
1) Paul receives a personal revelation from the risen Jesus saying he has paid the price for all sin--a sin-sacrifice:
Romans 5:6-8 You see, just at the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for our sins.
Romans 3:25-26 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice...at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus.
2) Paul claims that his Gospel is from the risen Jesus and not from men--including the Disciples:
Galatians 1:16-19 I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas [Peter], and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
Galatians 1:11 The good news I preach is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
3) Paul goes to Jerusalem fourteen years later--fourteen!--and spends time with some of the Disciples and claims he learned nothing of worth from them:
Galatians 2:6 As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message.
4) Paul claims his Gospel is the true Gospel, and that anyone who preaches otherwise are accursed, deceivers and liars:
Gal 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary [Galatians 1:11] (my emphasis) to what you received, let that one be accursed!
And before someone quotes 1 John 2.2, I say the following ... The Pauline epistles were written far earlier then 1 John. The Johannine Epistles were written by an anonymous author much later--probably after the Gospels. The idea of jesus as a sin-sacrifice was certainly well-known and so seems accepted by the various communities sympathetic to Paul--or at least some of the things he preached.
Early Christian Writings: ! John
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/1john.html
This, along with the Day of Atonement argument, I think is clear evidence that Jesus as a sin-sacrifice did not originate with the Disciples, but with Paul.
Comments guys?
Kindly,
Sean