: Echoes Psalm 139:23 ("Search me, O God") and Hebrews 10:19 (entering the presence by the blood of Jesus).
: Alludes to John 1:5 (light in darkness), John 8:12 (Jesus as the Light of the World), and John 8:32 (the truth setting us free).
: Reflects 2 Corinthians 3:18, focusing on believers being transformed "from glory to glory" as they reflect Christ.
: Kendrick initially wrote three verses but felt the song was incomplete. The famous chorus was written months later in approximately 20–30 minutes. It was first performed at the Spring Harvest conference in 1987.
: A Trinitarian prayer calling on the Father's glory (John 7:19), the Spirit's fire (Matthew 3:11), and "rivers" of grace (John 7:38).
It was voted the UK's 10th favourite hymn in a 2005 BBC Songs of Praise poll.
: The hymn is densely packed with scriptural allusions, primarily from the Gospel of John.