Why were the Gentiles not without hope even though they were without God in the world?
The Gentiles were not ultimately without hope because what was soon to take place—death, burial, and resurrection—would bring resurrection life. Though they were aliens from Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, and without God in the world at that time, God's redemptive plan centered in death, burial, and resurrection gave them hope.
Les explains that Paul writes to Gentiles that at that time, while God was dealing with the circumcision and the circumcision had no time for Gentiles in spiritual things, they were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. That was the lot of those Greeks. But they weren't without hope, because what was soon to take place is death, burial, and resurrection. As He would come forth from the grave, like wheat that grows up not just one kernel but maybe a hundred, so the whole concept of Scripture is death, burial, and resurrection. Les says God saturated nature with it: the seasons remind us—winter is dead and dormant, but springtime brings new life, resurrection life. That is why the Lord planned Easter in springtime, though Satan adulterated it; we are to look beyond Satan's adulterations to the truth of Scripture that everything is wrapped up in His death, burial, and resurrection.