How do we know that we were without Christ before salvation?

Ephesians 2:12 describes the state of those outside of Christ, stating that they are 'aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.' This powerful language highlights the total alienation and hopelessness that defines those who have not been redeemed by Christ. It underscores our natural state of enmity with God before His regenerating grace intervened, transforming us into children of God who now have access to Him through Christ.