Why were the pagan Gentiles around Israel without hope?

The pagan Gentiles around Israel were without hope because they were aliens to the commonwealth of Israel and strangers, so Scripture calls them lost. Though God still held them responsible, because creation itself gave every person knowledge of the Creator, leaving them without excuse.

Les explains that from Abraham's call until well into Acts, God dealt primarily with Israel, while the pagan Gentiles around them were without hope. Paul says in Ephesians 2 that they were aliens to Israel's commonwealth and strangers, and therefore lost. Yet God still held them responsible because they could have known Him. Les says every person has an inward knowledge that a Creator God exists; it may be dormant, but a starry midnight sky can bring them to that conclusion. Scripture therefore says they are without excuse and have all the evidence. Les also points to Paul at Athens, confronting idolatry, philosophy, and intellectualism, and declaring the unknown God they ignorantly worshiped.

Ephesians 2:12

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

According to Paul in Ephesians 2, what was the spiritual condition of pagan Gentiles around Israel?

Paul describes the pagan Gentiles surrounding Israel as without hope, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers. Consequently, they were lost. Though they were held responsible because creation gave them knowledge of the Creator, they remained outside Israel's covenant and without excuse.