4. How do we know that Jehovah expects us to live in harmony with his righteous standards?

⁴ Jehovah expects us to live by his standards of right and wrong. Since his standards are just and righteous, we are pursuing justice and righteousness when we conform to them. “Learn to do good, seek justice,” says Isaiah 1:17. God’s Word exhorts us to “seek righteousness.” (Zephaniah 2:3) It also urges us to “put on the new personality that was created according to God’s will in true righteousness.” (Ephesians 4:24) True righteousness​—true justice—​shuns violence, uncleanness, and immorality, for these violate what is holy.​—Psalm 11:5; Ephesians 5:3-5.

⁶ It is not easy for imperfect humans to pursue righteousness. We must strip off the old personality with its sinful practices and put on the new one. The Bible says that the new personality is “being made new” through accurate knowledge. (Colossians 3:9, 10) The words “being made new” indicate that putting on the new personality is a continuing process, one that requires diligent effort. No matter how hard we try to do what is right, there are times when our sinful nature causes us to stumble in thought, word, or deed.​—Romans 7:14-20; James 3:2.