“How God is to be so distinguished from idols that perfect honor may be given to him alone.” 

J. Calvin, Institutes, 1, 12, 1.

“Nothing do men act for more than their glory.”

Stephen  Charnock, Works, Vol. 2, 119.

The glory of men is the greatest idol and the most hostile opponent to the glory of God. Even in the very act of worship, men must wage war against their desire to receive honor, glory, and praise. Even when doing the most self-sacrificial service, the sinful heart rises up  with imaginations of praise for that service, for honor for living so beautifully, or for being an example for others. 

But the human heart must be tamed by the Spirit of Jesus Christ before it can offer any true and beautiful praise to God. The confession of idolatry, the declaration of our inadequacy, the admission of sins are so important because they are the natural outpourings of the heart toward a Holy God of anyone who comes into his Presence by faith in Christ and, in that place, desiring with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, to worship him in holiness and in truth.

God’s holiness is not simply brightness, but it is a brightness that can burn, destroy, and that comes into conflict with human evil.

Those who worship God and bring him glory must, like the priests of old, prepare, repent, pray, and consecrate themselves to this tremendous work. No one should rush into the presence of God. No one should presume on God’s grace. No one should foist his own righteousness as a qualification for entering into the presence of Almighty God. 

Calvin again (Institutes, 3, 13, 2, p. 764):

“…  Man cannot without sacrilege claim for himself even a crumb of righteousness, for just so much is plucked and taken away from the glory of God’s righteousness.”

It is the glory of God that determines who can come, who can pray, what must be confessed, who can be restored, and who may be forgiven.

Worship is not presumptuous theft of entry into the Holy Place. It is overwhelmed, unqualified, sinful people coming to God by the merits of Jesus Christ. It is people who cannot qualify, being qualified by the Cross and the Blood of Christ. It is people whose sin God must punish with Hell and sorrow, being completely forgiven because Christ has purchased us by his sacrifice.

The glory of God reminds us that we bring no righteousness to God. We bring no glory to God. We add no holiness to God. He possesses it all and nothing can be added to the sum of them.