God sees us as either acceptable or unacceptable to Him (remember Job?). We are either righteous in His eyes or we are not. Yes, we decide our choices. We can be virtuous or not. We can jump on God's train and stay on it, and let God take us to His destination, or we can give in to evil and be lost.
PS Those who are dead in sin need not apply (because there aren't any).
Not even a few? :) How about this:
Eph. 2:1-5 : 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Even Paul admits that he was among the dead in his transgressions and sins. He sure seems to be saying that we all are like that during our lives.