Romans

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,  concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
                                                                                           (Romans 1:1-7 ESV)
I getting ready to preach through Romans in September, so I've been reading this incredible piece of literature a great deal... The book of Romans is compelling.. refreshing .. convicting. I can see Paul deep in prayer and in thought as he writes this.. Probably in Corinth.. In a quite room.. He and the Lord. I pray that God will teach me and strengthen me as I study and teach it.. Even more I want Him to change me. Pray this happens. 
There are many ways to explain the purpose of Romans in a concise statement, but from what I've read so far, Christopher Ash has said it best: "The purpose of Romans is the glory of God seen in a united missionary church humbled together under grace."  Christopher Ash, Romans, Vol.One,  Proclamation Trust, Scotland, Great Britain, 2009 pg. 37