What are extremes concerning justification that we must avoid?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:
The doctrine of justification by faith is an important doctrine that may be pushed to extremes in many ways. One way is to insist that one must “do” certain things to have saving faith. If we insist upon the “doing,” we will be pushed into rules that one must follow before he is saved. It then becomes necessary for some specific person here on earth to set these rules and say when they are kept. You would then have salvation by works through a God-appointed (it is said) person who is the final authority. Such a salvation is solely by works and will culminate in ceremonies that give no assurance to the person, nor do they change his life. Paul spoke by inspiration when he insisted that it is not law that saves, but faith. In the conservative holiness movement, we can be as insistent on works as others when we say that to get saved there must be a certain amount of praying, weeping, vowing, or time spent seeking. Are not these requirements works? We weaken the meaning of being reconciled by the blood of Christ. In fact, we make repentance a work rather than a condition of justification. We must never forget that faith is what brings true peace with God. Justification, then, is by faith and not by works. We can be so concerned about the process that we lose this great doctrine.
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 14.