Why Doesn't God Choose to Save Everyone? Solving the Puzzle of Election

The Bible often refers to Christians as God's elect (or chosen ones), because God chose them for salvation before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4).  But if God is all-loving and all-powerful, why doesn't He choose to save everyone?

First, the Bible teaches that God wants to choose everyone.  This can be deduced from the following truths:  1) God loves everyone (Jn 3:16).  2) Christ died for everyone (2 Cor 5:15).  3) God invites all to be saved (Mt 11:28; Acts 17:30).  4) God wants everyone to be saved (1 Tim 2:3-4).  5) It is God's will that none should perish (2 Pt 3:9).  

Second, election is conditional.  Calvinists believe in unconditional election (the U in TULIP).  God chose to save some and not others, and His choice is unconditional -- it is not based on anything in the person, even faith.  But there are a few problems with this view.  1) Unconditional election makes it seem like God's choice is arbitrary -- not based on reason or logic; random.  2) Although Calvinists do not like to admit it, unconditional election means that God chose to send most people to hell before they were born without giving them a chance for salvation.  3) This makes God seem to be a moral monster.  4) The Bible clearly says that salvation is conditional (by faith; see Jn 3:16).  Therefore it doesn't make sense to say that election is unconditional.  

Third, the Bible says that election is according to God's foreknowledge (Rm 8:29; 1 Pt 1:1-3).  His choice is not random or arbitrary; it is based on His knowledge of the future.  What foreknowledge influenced God's decision to elect some and not others?  We know that salvation is received on the condition of faith.  Therefore we can conclude that election is according to God's foreknowledge of faith in Christ.  "For those he foreknew he also predestined (Rm 8:29)."  Knowing in advance who would accept Christ by faith, God chose them for salvation.  Those whom God foreknew would reject Christ were not chosen.  This is implied in the following verses about election.  

"... from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth (2 Thess 2:13)."  God chose us based on our belief in the truth.  He could choose us before the foundation of the world because He foreknew we would believe.

"For he chose us in him (Eph 1:4)."  Before the foundation of the world, God chose to save all those who are "in him" (i.e. in Christ."  He was able to do this because He foreknew who would be in Christ by faith.

God loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved.  But salvation can only be received through faith in Jesus Christ.  God foreknew who would believe in Christ and chose them for salvation before the foundation of the world.