God's will for salvation

“[God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
Many people want to know the will of God. Well, here is a verse that tells us one part of the will of God: He would be really pleased if everyone was saved. Herein lies a question: can people resist the will of God? Apparently so, because not all people come to salvation. If salvation was only dependent on God’s will and man had nothing to do with that decision, and furthermore, if God’s will was irresistable, then all people would be saved.
I believe that those of us who are saved were called individually by God and drawn by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a free gift that He gives to us; we do not deserve it and we cannot earn it either before or after it is granted to us. I believe God’s desire is that all would be saved – He doesn’t call some to salvation and not call others. The invitation is given to all (c.f. John 7:37). However, man also has the choice and the responsibility to respond to God. God has given us free will, and so that our love for Him will be genuine, He allows people to use that free will against Him if they should choose to do so.