I believe God tries to draw all men to him at some point in their lives, some just choose to reject him.

So how do the sovereignty of God and divine election line up with human responsibility? How are they reconciled?

There are some people who think they understand this; but when they think they do, it's usually because they've watered down one concept or the other. Either they emphasize divine election and the sovereignty of God, at the expense of human responsibility and choice, as the Calvinists do, or they recognize human responsibility while denying the reality of divine election, as do the Arminians.

Each extreme is correct in what they assert, but in error in what they deny. We shouldn't deny the sovereignty of God; we should revel in the fact that God chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). But it's also wrong to ignore the responsibility that each person has to answer the call of God.

It's also important that we acknowledge that God makes the invitation to everyone. He didn't only send His Son for a chosen few, but He "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3 :16). His invitation is always, "Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

"Whoever" means "whoever," and the invitation is open to all. But you must respond to the invitation. The door to heaven says, "whoever desires"; but once we get inside, we'll realize that He chose us.

God is sovereign; and as many were appointed, or ordained, to eternal life believed. But their belief was always a matter of choice, a matter of free will.

If you are a Christian, it's because God chose you. It's true that we have the ability to choose, but God, who knows all things, knows what we will choose; and He doesn't pick losers. He picks winners.

The thought comes to mind, "That isn't fair. What if God didn't choose me?" Well, have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior? If so, then He chose you. If you haven't accepted Him, do it and you'll find out you were chosen.

[edited for grammar]

that felt like a lot of circular logic....

but that doesn't change the fact that in order to be saved you have to accept salvation.... regardless of whether or not God "chose" you.... which isn't really a choosing if it is available to everyone...

"that felt like a lot of circular logic...."

The gospel is supposed to be simple. Just believe that Jesus came from God, took my sin, died in my place, and rose again. Simple.

Though God is sovereign and He has elected that we should be in Christ before the foundation of the earth, God has also ordained that we must exercise the free choice He has given to us.

So the gospel is "to whosoever will, let him come," but the coming is still up to you. So we have the mystery of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. Both sides are correct in what they assert, but in error in what they deny.

see, you can explain it without using circular logic....

God has made it possible for us to be saved, but only by choosing to follow Jesus can we be saved.... I don't see the problem I don't see 2 sides to the issue at all.