Mark 1:23-26: "23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God.' 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent, and come out of him!' 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him."
John 3:19-21: "19 'And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.'"
Ephesians 5:8-14: "8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'"
Hebrews 9:14: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
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The hymn is divided into two sections. The first section (the first two verses) describes the opposition between the "dark, disordered world" of the demons and Christ as "the Light," who drives them out. This section is drawn from the first three texts: Mark 1:23-26, John 3:19-21, and Ephesians 5:8-14.
The second section (verses three through five) asks the Lord to "Come, speak the truth that cleanses sin," "Drive out the doubt that cripples faith; / Expel our pride and greed," and give us "hearts and wills made new... to serve, / To rise and follow You." This section comes from Hebrews 9:14, although "Walk as children of light... and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord" from Ephesians 5 could apply here too.
The hymn also deserves some citations from John. "Light," "Truth," and "Word" are capitalized in the hymn text, indicating that these refer to Jesus. He calls Himself "Light" in John 8:12 and "Truth" in John 14:6, and He is called the "Word" in John 1:1, 14.
