Their sins were not yet forgiven, they remained until Jesus Christ was sacrificed. God could not yet dwell in them, they could not yet enter into the holies. Hebrews makes this crystal clear, but you will have to remove the Calvinism glasses and allow the Spirit to teach you if you want to make an honest effort to understand....
Heb 10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Understand that the "shadow of things to come" is not sufficient to allow a person to enter into a union with God, nor enter into the holy of holies with God. If it were sufficient then there would be no necessity of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Heb 10:2
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Heb 10:3
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Notice it is a "remembrance", a teaching that you are a sinner and you need a sacrifice.
Heb 10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Pay close attention! The sacrifices of bulls and goats did NOT take away sins. They were merely a shadow of the Messiah to come, a teaching to prepare Israel to understand their Messiah's purpose. These believers were still in their sins, unable to go into the presence of the LORD.
Heb 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
"No pleasure". They were NOT sufficient!
Heb 10:7
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
How are we scanctified? Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.
Heb 10:11
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Understand, those sacrifices made by the priest NEVER took away sins.
Heb 10:12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Now, and only now, after the actual sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sins, is the NEW covenant enforced, which is, Christ In You!
Heb 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Now, one can enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
Heb 10:20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Now, by a "new and living way".
Heb 10:21
And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Now, we have been washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)
A Holy God could not dwell within a sinful man UNTIL the atonement was made. There is no such thing as regeneration before Jesus Christ was glorified. John even makes this clear John 7:39. Jesus makes this clear when He speaks of Peter being converted. Conversion is regeneration. Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God.
True believers pre-cross awaited the cross in a place referred to as Paradise. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, today you shall be with me in paradise. When Mary met Jesus after His resurrection what did He say to her? "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father". Where did He go while His body lay lifeless for three days? Where did Jesus tell the thief he would be "with Him" that very day? Answer, Paradise. Not Heaven, Not with the Father.
