https://www.bible.com/111/eph.2.15-16.niv
Certainly the world does not believe this, but does the church? Can race relations be solved by Jesus? Or is it Jesus plus something more? When the work on the cross is not enough to solve racial / tribal strife what makes us think then it was enough to solve the divide that sin created between humans and God?
If the power that raised Jesus from the dead, that cleansed unrighteousness, that broke down the barriers between God and Humanity, is the same power that is in Christ’s body, the Church, then why do we look to anything else but the church to heal these deep prejudicial wounds?
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Ephesians 1:18-23 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/eph.1.18-23.niv
So then, what does this mean, because the church has, not only often failed to heal these wounds but, at times has directly participated in the divisions?
What if we simply focused on the fact that ‘In one body the groups are reconciled to God through the cross’? What if we trusted that the ‘incomparably great power of god that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him with all authority in heaven’ would be present in us? Isn’t this the way of the early church? The body, the local gathering of believers, from all races, cultures, economic tiers, political bends, sexes, and ages would gather in homes and break bread, eat a love feast, together while fully participating with all of their gifts in the blessings of Jesus to each other and the world around them.