We understand there is holiness that has to do with God's statements concerning people, buildings, or locations, and then there is actual holiness of personality. Holiness of personality means unclean spirits have been removed from us, and Christ has been formed in their place.
Holiness is an individual matter. What is unclean for one person may not be unclean for another. In one sense holiness is an abstraction. For example, the spirit of rage must be removed from us if we are to be holy. In another sense, holiness depends on God's decision. God can declare any circumstance or thing to be holy if He so chooses. At one time pork was not holy. At another time pork was holy.
Holiness has to do with what we are. Righteousness has to do with what we do.
Holiness is the ability to distinguish that which pleases the Lord from that which displeases the Lord, and the power and willingness to embrace the good and denounce and renounce the evil.
Using filthy language, while it may not offend people, offends God. Therefore using filthy language has more to do with holiness than with righteousness. We are holy before the Lord. We are righteous before people.
The closer we draw to the Lord Jesus the more that holiness becomes an issue; the more we understand what is clean and unclean for us personally.
