Salvation By the Will of God

Romans 9:11 KJV

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

God's choosing Jacob over Esau while they were both yet in the womb and before either had done good or evil demonstrates the omniscience of God. He knows the future because there is no future with God. Time is of no consequence to Him. He sees the ending with the beginning.

God's purpose in choosing Jacob over Esau is to demonstrate that God's election (in context this refers to salvation) is of God's calling and not of works. The object of the lesson is not that one is chosen for heaven and the other for hell. The object or purpose of the lesson is that salvation is of God's calling and not based on our works. Salvation is of the will of God. It is a gift provided by the Gospel of Christ and not a package purchased by the goodness of men. This "election" then is available to all who will accept it. It is of God, who would have all men to come to the knowledge of the truth, and therefore for all men who will come to that truth.