Making the right choice

Psa 7:11 — Psa 7:12 (KJV)
God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

At the end of the day, it is about making a choice - to be righteous or wicked. And thanks be to God for His perfect consistency, that we can be sure of the unchanging consequence of one over the other.
Being a choice means that the state of being righteous or wicked is not fixed but indeed is maintained by our choices. Good thing is, the "wicked" can always choose right and be righteous and but "bad" thing is, the "righteous" can be "wicked" when they choose wrong doing. (c.f. Ezk 18:20-32)

Now, the important thing to note is that while the state of righteousness or wickedness is a choice, we do not define what righteousness or wickedness is. That is solely determined by God. And again thanks be to God for his unwavering standard that we are not left wondering what is right or wrong.
What remains is for us to consistently choose right and if we should ever choose otherwise, turn from error back to the right.

PS: So where does Christ come in then? First and foremost the definition of what is right. The Law of Christ deals with that. Secondly, the restoration and consequences. Without Christ, there can be no reconciliation. That is why, those outside of Christ can obey the law of Christ perfectly by the book, but still be lost! The only choice that is given "concession" is that of obeying the gospel.
So, yes, we need to choose right but it is only because of Christ that our choice becomes relevant and beneficial to us. It is also because of Christ that when we make the choice to forsake wickedness, are we able to be restored to righteousness.