I heard a saying years ago that I let guide me when I read scripture. Sorry I do not know who to attribute it to.
"When the plain sense of scripture make common sense, seek no other sense".. The scripture being discussed here is a prime example.
"For there is only one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Only thru the distorted lens of the doctrine of the Trinity can you read this and contend that Jesus and God are one and the same. Jesus is either a mediator or he is God. He can not be both unless you think God is suffering from multiple personality disorder and talks to himself.
"the man Christ Jesus". Again, he is either a man or he is God. Christ means anointed of God. He is either God or the anointed one of God. Most people call Him Jesus Christ making his title the equivalent of a last name obscuring who He is. When we are in Christ, we are not in Jesus but in the same anointing he has from His Father.
Sky Dancer, that is a nice story but it is clouded by that same lens. How about this scenario?
A lady comes into court. She is asked to step up to the defendant's table. She looks at the judge, God the Father, and sees Jesus standing at His right hand. He is dressed in a spotless white robe. The charges are read. She pleads guilty and says she is sorry and asks; "Please have mercy on me"
The Judge looks to Jesus and nods His head up and down. Jesus walks to where she is standing and removes the robe and wraps it around her. With the robe removed, she can see all the scars from the wounds he received for her and mankind. He than returns to His place at the right hand of the Father who gives Him a new robe for the next defendant which could be you or I.
The judge looks back to her and says; "I see no reason for you to be in this court. You are free to leave and become an adopted member of my family"
God did not die for you, His Son did.
Our text makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and men. No wonder Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me," John 14:6.
Once again, Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father. He is they way to the Father, not the Father. It is no different then the street in front of your house. It is the way to your house but not your house.
The main point of this scripture is even more important and lost to most. The Father is supposed to be our goal. Not Jesus. To many people have lost site of that by making Jesus God. If you worship one you worship the other.
Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version)
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment.
You can probably say you have done that with Jesus but when was the last time you specifically worshipped God the Father as Jesus commands?