Our History
The radio ministry began under the name “Firm Foundation Radio”, and began as a suggestion of Scott Krus, then General Manager of WBNH Radio, the local Moody affiliate. Pastor Ritch’s desire was to hold up the name of Jesus, not his own, and was at first reluctant to do a broadcast. God used Scott and through his encouragement Ritch came to see how God could be glorified by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord over the airwaves. The first program aired in August 2004. The name was changed to Knowing ChristTM Radio with the national launch of the program in 2013. Ritch is thankful for so many who have encouraged and assisted him in expanding the ministry of God’s Word both on radio and at Bethany Baptist Church.
Dr. Boerckel’s goal for Knowing ChristTM Radio:
“It is my desire that Knowing ChristTM Radio proclaims Jesus as Lord and prepares God’s people to worship Him now and forever!”
What We Believe:
About the Scriptures:
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written is God breathed, verbally inspired, and the product of Spirit-controlled men. Therefore, it is truth without any admixture of error in its matter. We believe the Bible to be the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, history, and opinions shall be adjudged.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21
About the True God
We believe there is one, and only one, eternal, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Creator and Supreme Rule of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. In the tri-unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Rev. 4:11; 1 John 5:7
About the Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman. He is the Son of God, and God the Son from eternity.
Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; John 10:30
About the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father, and God the Son, and of the same nature. He was active in the creation. In His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent of the new birth; He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. He is God’s advocate with believers as Jesus Christ is the believer’s advocate with God.
John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33;
Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-28
About the Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation literally, in its entirety, and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by the process of evolution or any other process.
Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3
About the Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence and in the spiritual and moral likeness of God and lived under the law of his maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind is now guilty and condemned not only by constraint, but of choice, and is therefore without defense or excuse. Fallen man is incapable of redeeming himself and must rely upon a merciful God for salvation.
Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:19; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18;
Romans 1:32
About the Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. Having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wondrous person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. He died for all sinners, His salvation is effective only unto those who believe on Him.
Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3;
2 Corinthians 5:21
About the Grace in the New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again. The new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; it is instantaneous and not a process. It is the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit in the soul of man. In the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. The new creation is brought about in a manner beyond our comprehension, employing divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel. Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, newness of life, and love for the brethren.
John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6,7; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Peter 1:4;
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8;
1 John 4:14
About Faith and Salvation
We believe that repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the essential factors in the salvation of a soul.
Acts 16:31; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:9-10
About Justification
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification;
(a) that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness.
(b) that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, and in the fact of His resurrection that His righteousness is imputed unto us.
Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:1, 9; Ephesians 2:8-9
About The Resurrection, Personal, Visible Pre-millennial Return of Christ, and Related Events
(a). We believe in the Bodily Resurrection of Christ.
Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6
(b) The Ascension of Christ.
Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2.
(c) The High Priesthood of Christ.
Hebrews 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 2:7; Hebrews 5:9-10
(d) The Literal, Pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.
I Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21
(e) The Pre-millennial return of Christ to judge the nations and to reign universally upon the earth.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 1 Corinthians 15:52
(f) The Millennial Reign.
1 Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1; Isaiah 11:4-5; Psalm 72:8; Rev. 20:14; Revelation 20:6
(g) The New Heaven and the New Earth.
2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1-5
About The Security Of The Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept eternally by God the Father for Jesus Christ. It is impossible for the validity of a Christian experience to be annulled.
Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1
About The Righteous And The Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse. This distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting conscious physical suffering of the lost, following the great white throne judgment.
Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; 1 John 5:19; Romans 7:6; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21
About The Local Church
We believe that a local church is a congregation of believers baptized after conversion, associated by covenant of faith and friendship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, right, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are pastors and Elders, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the Bible to be the sole standard for faith and practice. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing for Christ to all men unto the ends of the earth. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of a hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only true Head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit. It is scriptural for true local churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith for the furtherance of the Gospel. Each member has priestly rights and a conscience to be respected. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation, and on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, and of benevolence. The will of the local church as expressed in democratic procedure is final.
Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11;2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:17-28;
1 Timothy 3:1-7; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; Acts 15:13-18
About Baptism And The Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is, according to the scriptures, the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, setting forth our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We recognize believer’s baptism by various methods as a valid expression of faith, but we practice baptism of believers by immersion. Believer’s baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of local church membership. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. It is to be partaken of only by prepared, bona fide believers.
Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12;
1 Corinthians 11:23-28
About the Devil (Satan)
We believe in the personality of Satan and that his present peculiar realm of activity is the atmosphere and scheme of this present world. He is the unholy god of this age and the author of all the powers of darkness. He is destined to be judged by an eternal justice in the lake of fire.
Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10
About Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. Those in authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth.
Romans 13:1-7; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:20; Acts 4:19-20; Daniel 3:17-18