Romans Intro--

The Epistle to the Romans
So often pastors, expositors, Bible teachers are asked what book of the Bible they would chose to have if they could only have one book for the remainder of their lives. The consensus is consistent in the answer...the book of Romans.
Of the thirteen epistles written by Paul, Romans includes the second longest introduction.
This introduction extends from v 1 through to v 17. It is only exceeded by the first two chapters of Galatians that comprise Paul's introduction of that letter. Galatians however needed a longer introduction because it was Paul's first epistle and it dealt with a problem in the Galatian churches, the problem of legalism.
Here, the epistle to the Romans does not deal with a specific problem. But Paul had never been to Rome at the time of its writing. So he includes a longer introduction to explain who he is, not so much by credentials (as in Galatians), but by person, who he is and why he is writing.

If we were to take a broad overview of Romans we would see two major themes separated by a parenthesis regarding Israel.
Romans 1-8, Our relationship to God

Romans 9-11, Paul's desire for Israel to be saved Romans 12-16, Our relationship one to another
If we look at this epistle chronologically, as it fits into sequence with the other letters of Paul we can see a pattern:
Galatians: 48 AD, a strong stand for grace. Legalism having no part in the Christian way of life.

I and II Thessalonians: 52 AD, the individual relationship of believers to one another and the believer's anticipation of the return of Christ
I and II Corinthians: 56 AD, the cooperative responsibilities of believers in the local church. These are the epistles on ecclesiology, the function of the local church.
And then Romans: 57 AD, written from Corinth to a church Paul had never visited. The letter is somewhat impersonal but objective. It deals with
the doctrine by which we function as Christians, such as:
• Justification by faith
• Living by grace and power of the Spirit • Serving the Lord with one another
In Ecclesiastes we note that Solomon's major theme was that we, as believers, enjoy life as we obey God's Word.
And these are not antithetical concepts. The reason we can enjoy life is because Christ has set us free from the Law and the oppressive laws of man. And that truth, which is explained in practical terms in Galatians, is now explained in theological terms in Romans.
Romans is without a doubt the crown jewel of the epistles.
It has changed the course of Christian history more than once. During the reformation it was the one letter that Martin Luther used to defend his position that we are saved by faith alone, that we live by faith alone, and we live according to the Scriptures alone.
Of this letter Luther said: "It is the true masterpiece of the NT, and the very purest Gospel, which is well worthy and deserving that a Christian man should not only learn it by heart, word for word, but also that he should daily deal with it as daily bread for man's soul. It can never be too well read or studied. The more it is handled the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes."
The French expositor Godet observed: "The reformation was undoubtedly the work of the epistle to the Romans as well as that of Galatians. Spiritual revival in the church will be connected to a deeper understand of this book."
Harry Ironsides said of Romans: "It is the most scientific statement of the divine plan for the redemption of mankind. It is the orderly setting forth of the Gospel that the mind of man craves, the declaration of man's need along with the gracious plan of God's salvation which culminates in His glorification."