What was the condition of Gentiles before they were in Christ?

Before being in Christ, Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world. They were far off, outside covenant relationship, saturated in paganism, not seeking God or concerned about Israel’s God.

Les explains that this was the lot of Gentile forefathers: without Christ, aliens from Israel’s commonwealth, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. They were far off, outside covenant relationship. But now in Christ Jesus, they are made nigh by the blood of Christ, not by coming into a covenant relationship or under Judaism. Les points out the inversion: once Jew only with a few Gentile exceptions, now practically Gentile only with a few Jewish exceptions. Isaiah prophesied God was found of them that sought Him not, and made manifest to them who asked not after Him—the Gentiles, who were not concerned about Israel’s God or worried about their eternal doom, but saturated in paganism. Yet God sent the Apostle Paul to those very same people. This fulfills Scripture’s rule: no one, beginning with Adam and Eve, ever seeks God.

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:

What did Paul say about the condition of the Gentiles before Christ?

Paul said that Gentiles in the flesh, called uncircumcision by the circumcision made by hands, were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.