Objection 18: 1 Timothy 1:9 proves that the Christian has nothing to do with the law, for we read there that “the law is not made for a righteous man.”
Let us read the whole passage:
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient. For the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers. For manslayers [murderers], for whore mongers [pimps and madams], for them that defile themselves with mankind [homosexuals], for men stealers [slavers], for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.” 1 Tim. 1:9-10.
The passage says nothing about the law being abolished in the Christian era. Rather, it reveals that the law serves as definite a purpose in the Christian era, just as in the centuries before Christ. The class of people against whom the law is directed—murderers, liars, etc.—are found in every period of the world’s history.
There is no text in the Bible that proves more conclusively than this one that the law was not done away at the cross. The only way to refute this proof would be to argue that the lawbreakers described in the passage must obey the law, whereas Christians are free from it. This is the strange conclusion the objector's logic forces us to.
But even this crude defense of the anti-nomian position is unavailing. Can even the most devout among righteous men claim that they never commit sin? No. Even the greatest saints have had to claim the comforting promise. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1.
But the same apostle who wrote that promise also wrote, “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Therefore, every time we confess our sins, we are acknowledging that God’s law is still binding upon us. As we again place our hand in the hand of God and walk in righteousness, we are not brought into conflict with the law, for “the law is not made for a righteous man.”
There is really nothing hard to understand about this text. It is a simple statement concerning the purpose of law that every judge or legislator or layman would agree to today in matters civil as well as religious. For whom are our criminal laws laid down? For the law-abiding citizen? No, for the lawless, you say. That is right. But is the law-abiding citizen therefore freed from the requirements of the statute books? Of course not.
The same is true concerning God’s law. It is directed against the lawless, not against the righteous, who are law-abiding citizens of the kingdom of God. But are the citizens of the heavenly kingdom therefore freed from the requirements of that divine code? No.
Furthermore, the law-abiding citizens in any jurisdiction are not the ones who complain about the continuing applicability of the law. To the contrary, they complain about those who break the law without appropriate punishment or other consequences.
Even so in the spiritual realm. The man whose heart is right with God finds no occasion to fight the divine law or urge that it ought to be abolished. Instead, he says with the Psalmist, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97.
And if he is overtaken in a fault and falls into sin, he does not excuse his sinful act by arguing that the law has no claim upon him. Rather he confesses that he has broken the law, asks forgiveness and cleansing, and seeks, through divine power, to faithfully obey God.