Regeneration begins the new life in the soul; justification deals
with the new attitude of God towards that soul, or perhaps better, of
that soul towards God; adoption admits man into the family of God
with filial joy. Regeneration has to do with our change in nature;
justification, with our change in standing; sanctification, with
our change in character; adoption, with our change in position. In
regeneration the believer becomes a child of God (John 1:12,13);
in adoption, the believer, already a child, receives a place as
an adult son; thus the child becomes a son, the minor becomes an
adult (Gal. 4:1-7).