Between the 2 Key verses in John’s epistle

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8

"Here John is writing to Christians,
--and his epistle is full of exhortations to the Christian to purge sin from his life, with grave warnings to any who do not.
--Yet, he also says that for a Christian to claim sinless perfection is self-deception. 

Only by Jesus Christ Himself could such claims be truly made.

The greatest theologian, Paul, said concerning Christ that He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
His closest friends, Peter and John, said that He “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22)
and that in Him is no sin (1 John 3:5).
His betrayer, Judas, said, “I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4);
His condemning judge, Pilate, said, “I find in him no fault at all” (John 18:38);
and His executioner said, “This was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47.)
Christ Himself claimed human perfection: “For I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29).

 But between these two key verses in John’s epistle, he gives us the moment-by-moment remedy for sin in a godly believer’s life: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). HMM