Sin is a funny thing.
Sometimes I run into people that take an approach I consider extreme -- "because we are depraved and sinful, every waking moment is spent sinning against God." It seems that this attitude would give someone no hope and even an excuse to revel in sin. I think a simple and balanced study of Scripture would show that to be a false belief, or heresy.
While we are sinners saved by grace, surely something must happen in this thing called salvation, shouldn't it? Some sort of "regeneration" or "new life" from this "new, second birth?" When Jesus said, "I've come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly, did He not refer to something? What about the fact that the Holy Spirit lives inside us -- the "Comforter" He left to us? Wouldn't the existence of God's Spirit give us some power to overcome sin? 1 Corinthians 10:13, which was my old band's unofficial motto verse:
"No temptation has seized you,
except what is common to man.
And God is faithful;
He will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear,
but will provide a way out
so that you may stand up under it."
We are also encouraged by the teachings of Jesus to live a certain way, elevating others and living love on a continual basis, pursuing justice and helping those around us. Certainly there is a call or purpose to our lives. And sin would not be that calling.
I've never met (at least in recent memory) anyone who acted like, "Well, I'm forgiven anyway, so I may as well sin." Perhaps we all think like that from time to time, but most of us would probably view that kind of attitude as a betrayal of sorts to the God that went to so great an extent to save us from sin and its consequences.
In Psalm 32, David talks about sin:
"Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord does not count
against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit."
If it's possible to have no deceit in my spirit (I believe that to be the case), then I want to be that man!
It's interesting to read a description of the consequences of sin:
"When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
Your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of Summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to You
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, 'I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord'
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin."
There is a neat encouragement, too:
"Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you."
I think the Lord wants people who come to Him willingly,
like sheep come to their shepherd. Not coerced, cajoled, manipulated, threatened, or forced. But out of love running to Him like a small child runs to its parents when they come home from work, etc.