God's choice in 'election' is purely based on his own purpose and grace, and not based on any good attribute or quality within a person.  

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“Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.'   Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”'What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!” (Romans 9:10-14)

 

“It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” (Romans 9:16-18)

 

“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.  And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:5-6)

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People may argue that God must elect us based on a good quality, trait or deed. It can be seen from the above verses that this is not true. God chooses to ‘elect’ his people according to his grace and purpose. Now if his choice was based on some foreseen quality, attribute or deed then it would no longer be by grace: "It cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”  Election into God’s family is not based on our desires, effort or works but it is based on God’s mercy and grace as written above.

 

"But you are a chosen People, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)  We were "chosen" to "declare the praises of him who called" us!  (This is far different than declaring our own praise by claiming, 'I chose Him')  Our election does not reflect our goodness, but God's goodness!

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This is how the apostle Paul puts it:  "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.  But for this very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Tim. 1:15-16)  It does not tell us that we are saved because we are 'good people', but that God is displaying his mercy by saving "the worst of sinners".

 

None of us can boast that we were elected because we are better than the person next to us. We were elected because God is merciful and we should rejoice in that. People may want to hang onto the idea that God chose us based on some redeeming quality within our character, to retain some part of it being ‘our choice’.  However:

 

Two things should be clear from scripture so far:

1. God elected us to be his heirs before the beginning of time.

2. God’s choice in election is based on grace and not based on any characteristic of the elected:  He     created us - He chose us - He called us.  He saves us!