What is the law good for?

If you look at any crime statistics at all, it is obvious that people break the 10 commandments a LOT. Here the problem is not with the law, but with the lawbreakers. Can you imagine some legislator saying, "There sure are a lot of murderers - we ought to abolish that law so we wouldn't have murderers!"

Moving into 1Tim1:8-12, where Paul points this out to Timothy:

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

So, what is the law (civil or moral law) good for?

• the law is to show us we are sinners and that we need a savior
• the law is to drive us toward Christ as a mediator
• The law is to be our delight (as in Psalm 119)
• The law is to restrain us from being as bad as we could be

Notice also, Paul's examples of lawbreakers above. The first couple of examples (the lawless and disobedient, the ungodly and sinners) are general in nature while the last ones (those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers,) correspond directly with commandments #5-9 (see Exodus 20)

So, Paul is exhorting Timothy to sound teaching (in accord with the law) because bad teaching (contrary to the law) leads people to bad (unlawful) behavior. There is no conflict between Moses (the lawgiver) and Jesus (the mediator).