Wesley confronts the Moravian-influenced view that sin is entirely removed at conversion. He answers from Scripture and from pastoral experience: the believer is new, yet sin remains until perfect love casts it out.
Sermon 13 of 44 · 1763 · 2 Corinthians 5:17
On Sin in Believers
A passage from the sermon
Although we are renewed, cleansed, purified, sanctified, the moment we truly believe in Christ, yet we are not then renewed, cleansed, purified altogether; but the flesh, the evil nature, still remains, (though subdued) and wars against the Spirit.
So much the more let us use all diligence in 'fighting the good fight of faith.' So much the more earnestly let us 'watch and pray' against the enemy within. The more carefully let us take to ourselves, and 'put on, the whole armour of God' — that, although we wrestle with both flesh and blood, with principalities, with powers, with wicked spirits in high places, we may be 'able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.'
The full sermon is in the public domain and freely available from CCEL and other archives.