FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Though John wrote both lessons, to connectJohn 3:1-36andJohn 16:1-33wholly violates good hermeneutics and contextual interpretation. In one lesson Jesus is quietly teaching an individual rabbai. In the other He is preparing the disciples for his epochal departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. [i] [ii] The one thing in common between the two lessons is the appearance of the Holy Spirit. However, the two passages deal with entirely distinct functions of the Holy Spirit, the reason they do not belong in the same topical or theological dialogue. The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration is one thing. The ministry of the Holy Spirit with the elect as the "new" Comforter (a work that I view as distinct from His role as life-giver) since the ascension is quite another. The rules of His work in one function are not at all the necessary rules of His work in the other area.
[i] I think I see agreement in that written here and that found in the commentary entry found in John chapter 16 verse 13 See PB:John 16:13where the writer there said "The Holy Spirit inJohn 3:8is not separately functional independently in its BLOWING, and cannot act sovereignly nor independently AS IT PLEASES, but is always PLEASING THE SON, because the Holy Spirit in Creativity and the Holy Ghost in Cultivating are of the SAME WILL, MIND, WAY and PLEASURE only concerned with the WILL, MIND, WAY and PLEASURE of the Son. {John 16:7-15} This COMPARATIVE of the WIND BLOWING relating to the SAME procedure of the action of the New Birth of the Spirit, must always be in harmony as such is THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GODJohn 5:25;John 6:63" The writer made the distinction IMHO thatJohn 3:8pertained to the new birth and thatJohn 16:7-15pertains to the Holy Spirit in cultivating. I do however make a separate distinction in the point that the Holy Spirit cannot act sovereignly nor independently for IMHO He does indeed act sovereignly and independently even though that operation is in full, complete and unified accord with the Father and the Son. {ii}
[ii] Amen to your comments brother. We should never diminish the sovereignty of each "Persona" within the Trinity in their mutually-agreed and harmonious work. Since they are both equal and agreed, one acting individually does not act in any way short of sovereignty.